- Joined
- Oct 21, 2009
- Messages
- 1,319
- Points
- 0
Contraband cigarettes destroyed
Posted: 10 November 2011 1714 hrs
Five-and-a-half tonnes of contraband cigarettes in two dump trucks are emptied into a crusher at the Tuas South Incineration Plant before being burned in the furnace. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
SINGAPORE: Nearly S$2.5 million's worth of illegal cigarettes went up in smoke on Thursday morning at the Tuas South Incinerator.That is about five-and-a-half tonnes of cigarettes.
Contraband cigarettes are regularly destroyed after they have been seized by customs officers, and officers from other enforcement agencies.
They are first stored in a secured warehouse, and burned after they have been forfeited by the court.
Between January and September, more than 49 tonnes -- or 49 million sticks of cigarettes -- had been incinerated.
That is down from the 76 tonnes of cigarettes destroyed in the same period last year.
Singapore Customs said the drop is due to enforcement and outreach efforts this year, which has led to fewer sticks being smuggled in.
- CNA/wk
Last edited: