Updated: 11/19/2013 22:32 | By Channel NewsAsia
ICA officers seize contraband cigarettes worth S$1.37m
SINGAPORE: Officers at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have seized contraband cigarettes worth S$1.37 million.
ICA said this is one of the largest seizures of contraband cigarettes of the year.
On November 13 at about 4.15pm, a 40-footer container arrived at the Pasir Panjang Scanning Station for clearance.
The consignment was declared to contain “candle holders, pens and towels”. As part of the checks, ICA officers directed the container for radiographic scanning.
The container had also been identified by Singapore Customs for further checks.
ICA officers noticed that the scanned images were inconsistent with the goods declared. The container was then directed for physical inspection.
During this round of checks, officers did not see any of the declared cargo inside the container. Instead, they found boxes of contraband cigarettes.
Singapore Customs seized the container and its 14,400 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.
The estimated street value of the duty-unpaid cigarettes is worth S$1.37 million -- the evaded duty amounted to about S$1.01 million, and S$96,000 of evaded goods and services tax (GST).
Customs officers are carrying out further investigations on the case.
Under the Customs Act and the GST Act, buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possession of or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences and offenders will be dealt with severely.
Repeat offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded, and jailed up to 6 years. Vehicles used in such offences are also liable to be forfeited. - CNA/nd
