Updated: 12/06/2013 15:44 | By Channel NewsAsia
Singapore Customs seizes second largest haul of contraband cigarettes this year
SINGAPORE: Singapore Customs has seized its second-largest haul of contraband cigarettes this year. A total of 17,638 cartons and eight packets of contraband cigarettes worth more than S$1.6 million were seized from two operations on November 27 and December 3.
The largest was on January 23, when officers seized 18,000 cartons in an operation at Jurong Port.
Singapore Customs said the total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded S$1.3 million.
Five men were also arrested in the operations, which it said disrupted the distribution network of two syndicates.
Singapore Customs added that court proceedings against the men are ongoing.
On November 27, customs officers laid an ambush outside a warehouse at Soon Lee Street. A Singapore-registered car was seen going into the warehouse.
Officers raided the warehouse and arrested the 54-year-old Singaporean driver as he was retrieving cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes from various compartments of the car. 245 cartons of contraband cigarettes were seized, along with the car.
Based on information gathered, another operation was mounted on December 3, also along Soon Lee Street.
Officers monitored a forklift operator, who was transferring fibre tanks from a Malaysian-registered lorry into a warehouse. Another three men were also seen entering the unit.
Officers moved in and arrested the four men -- a Malaysian and three Vietnamese -- as they were retrieving duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the fibre tanks and packing them into bags.
Subsequently, officers raided another warehouse along Soon Lee Street, where more duty unpaid cigarettes were found.
In total, 17,393 cartons and eight packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in this operation.
"These seizures of contraband cigarettes underscore Singapore Customs' strong determination to do whatever it takes to bring smugglers to justice," said Mr Yeo Sew Meng, assistant director-general of intelligence and investigation) at Singapore Customs.
"Syndicates will always try to come up with new and clever ways of hiding and smuggling cigarettes into Singapore. We will stay ahead of the game, and strike at the right time to disrupt their illegal activities," added Mr Yeo. - CNA/ac
