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Updated: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:06:48 GMT
Singapore Customs foils importer's attempt to smuggle soil into Singapore
A company that manufactures uniforms has been caught for trying to smuggle in an item that is not related to its core business.
It tried to bring in over 800 bags of soil into Singapore without the proper documents.
The company hid the bags of soil among its usual consignment of declared goods like textile material and umbrellas in a 20-foot container.
Singapore Customs said this is the first time that soil has been smuggled into Singapore.
The soil had been shipped from Huangpu, China to Singapore.
Singapore Customs had worked with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority in stopping the shipping container before it got through the Tanjong Pagar Gate on 22 Aug 2012.
823 bags of soil each bag measuring 26-litre commonly used for growing plants were found in the container.
The entire consignment of soil was seized.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is currently investigating the case.
The import of soil into Singapore is regulated under the Control of Plants Act - Plant Importation Rules.
Under the Act, the import of soil must be covered by a valid import permit issued by the AVA.
A phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country certifying that the soil is free from any plant parasitic nematodes and plant pests is also required.
Plant parasitic nematodes are harmful microscopic worms in soil that can affect the growth of plants as the majority of these nematodes feed on the underground parts of plants such as the roots, bulbs and tubers.
The import permit and phytosanitary certificate requirements are to prevent the introduction of plant parasitic nematodes and plant pests into Singapore.
Anyone who fails to comply with these requirements can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed up to three years.
