The Police have arrested a 48 year old Indonesian man, for his suspected involvement in smuggling duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore during an operation conducted by the Police Coast Guard (PCG) and supported by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Singapore Customs.
On 16 January 2021 at about 9.45pm, PCG officers conducted an enforcement operation on board a foreign-registered tugboat berthed at Tuas, which led to the arrest of one Indonesian man. A total of 1600 cartons and 23 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized as case exhibits. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to more than $200,000 and more than $16,000 respectively. Investigations by Singapore Customs are ongoing.
PCG will continue to work closely with the community, maritime and enforcement agencies to safeguard our waters and sea borders against crime and security threats, including smuggling activities.
Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Members of the public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of Customs duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000 or email customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg to report these illegal activities.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
19 January 2021 @ 5:45 PM