1,100 cartons of cigarettes found hidden in vessel from Batam

[AntiPAPunk]

1,100 cartons of cigarettes found hidden in vessel from Batam

Posted: 19 December 2012 2147 hrs

Cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes of assorted brands wrapped in black plastic bags found by ICA officers (Photo/ICA)

SINGAPORE: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers found 1,100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a secret compartment of a wooden vessel on Wednesday morning.

The officers made the discovery at 11.30am during a routine check at Selat Pauh Anchorage.

Four crew members - all male Indonesians aged between 40 and 46 - were onboard the vessel, which arrived from Indonesia.

During an inspection, the officers spotted a wooden plank wall at the rear of the engine compartment, where the cigarettes were hidden.

During preliminary investigations, the four Indonesians admitted to the conveyance of the illicit cigarettes from Batam to Singapore. They had been promised between S$100 and S$200 each for the task.

The four men, as well as the exhibits and wooden craft, have been handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.

The cigarettes are estimated to be worth S$121,100.

The total customs duty payable for the illicit cigarettes is S$94,300.

S$8,500 in Goods and Services Tax (GST) is also payable.

The four men can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed up to six years.

- CNA/jc