Updated: 01/23/2014 17:13 | By Channel NewsAsia
More use luxury cars to smuggle contraband cigarettes
SINGAPORE: More offenders have been caught for smuggling contraband cigarettes into Singapore using luxury cars.
Singapore Customs said the offenders had assumed that luxury vehicles would less likely be checked by enforcement officers at the checkpoints.
Last year, 15 offenders were caught for trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes into Singapore in luxury cars, compared to 2012 when there were four offenders.
A total of 2,642 cartons and four packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes valued at more than S$250,000 were recovered from modified compartments of the cars including the seats, fuel tank, spare tyre and engine compartments.
The duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded exceeded S$208,000.
Among those caught, 11 were sentenced to between three and 13 months' jail.
Their vehicles were forfeited.
Court proceedings are ongoing for the other four offenders. - CNA/nd
