http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,199444,00.html?
LUCKLESS BUYERS...
They end up paying $500 for a packet of illegal cigs
Lured by cheap buy, but burnt by hefty fines
By Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
April 20, 2009
SORRY: This foreign worker pleads (with raised hands) with Customs officers to 'give chance'. He had bought some illegal smokes and was slapped with a hefty fine. TNP PICTURES: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
WITH hands clasped, some begged to be given a chance.
Others, like one foreign worker caught for buying contraband cigarettes, surrendered to fate.
Resigned to a hefty fine, the inconsolable worker rested his forehead on a table.
What seemed like a bargain for the many buyers of illegal cigarettes turned sour on 9 Apr.
The New Paper on Sunday accompanied Customs officers in what was an exclusive glimpse into operations to weed out buyers of illegal cigarettes.
Instead of the $50 a carton for illegal smokes, those nabbed would now have to pay $5,000 a carton.
We saw at least two people fined $5,000 each that Thursday night.
TOUGH CHASE: A Customs officer chasing an illegal cigarette peddler who had earlier jumped into this 2.5m deep drain. The peddler left his plastic bag of contraband cigarettes in the drain. TNP PICTURES: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
Operation Big Sweep
The day-time operation conducted island-wide nabbed 84 offenders, including 22 near Jurong Point.
Of those arrested, 58 were Singaporeans.
Each offender was fined $500 a packet of illegal cigarettes.
About 190 packets seized.
During a night operation at Yew Tee, officers conducted checks on individuals and vehicles leaving the estate.
Some offenders, like one taxi passenger who initially denied having contraband cigarettes, later confessed when a packet was discovered.
Customs officers found four packets of clove cigarettes hidden among two plastic bags of fish and crabs belonging to the passenger.
Fined
He was later fined $2,000.
Sometimes motorists use vehicle compartments and personal belongings to hide illegal cigarettes, the Customs spokesman said.
Motorists speeding off to avoid detection are also a major danger, not only to officers, but to other road users.
That night, 22 offenders were caught - 17 Singaporeans and five foreigners - with 135 packets of illegal cigarettes.
Singapore Customs' enforcement efforts have become more effective with the introduction of the new SDPC (Singapore Duty Paid Cigarettes) marking regulation since 1 Jan, said a Customs spokesman.
CHECKS: Customs officers stop a taxi to check for contraband cigarettes. They examine some confiscated cigarettes at the end of an operation at Yew Tee industrial estate. TNP PICTURES: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
'When the penalty was made known to the offenders, they were shocked and lost for words. You can even see their jaw drop. They blame themselves for their bad luck,' said Higher Customs Officer Kevin Stewart.
Offenders were escorted to a makeshift command post where officers tried to establish where the cigarettes were bought.
The nature of the offence was explained to offenders.
A deferred payment may be offered to an offender, if more time is needed to raise funds.
Officers also use brochures to explain customs regulations, to prevent those nabbed from repeating the offence.
Said Assistant Director-General of Customs (Intelligence and Investigations) Lee Boon Chong: 'In these tough economic times, attempting to reap savings by buying illegal cigarettes will cost you even more when the fine of $500 per packet sets in.
'It is not worth it at all. So the best thing to do is to stay away from illegal cigarettes, or better still, quit smoking altogether.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECKLESS SELLERS...Nothing's too risky
THEY were so desperate to escape that they risked life and limb.
At the first hint of an ambush by Custom officers, the illegal cigarette peddlers scattered in all directions, some leaping into deep canals, fleeing into forested areas or dashing across roads.
The New Paper on Sunday team got a glimpse of their desperation when we saw one seller jump into a 2.5m deep drain.
It was a night operation code-named Tangkap Pembeli 4 (Operation Catch Buyer), held near Yew Tee industrial estate. In a storm drain close to an ATM machine in the estate, Customs officers seized 70 packets of cigarettes left behind by a fleeing peddler.
One Customs officer said Yew Tee 'presents an enforcement challenge... not only to Singapore Customs, but to other enforcement agencies as well'.
Explained Mr Yeo Ban Meng, deputy head of the Suppression and Community Engagement Branch: 'Owing to the jungle-like terrain and the vast area, our officers require special training in terms of search and arrest.'
Peddlers pose a challenge, Mr Yeo said.
'The bottom line is still the safety of our officers. We would not want to risk endangering our officers,' he said.
'At the same time, we are also continuously adjusting our strategies to tackle this problem. If we can't get the bad guys this time, we will at the next round.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You hide, we seek
IN the ongoing battle against the sale of contraband cigarettes, the law is gaining the upper hand.
With the mandatory SDPC markings on each cigarette, it's easier to spot illegal cigarettes.
Yet, it takes some covert work by undercover Customs officers to flush out offenders who often engage in 'smokescreen' tactics to evade the law.
The New Paper on Sunday got an exclusive peek when we followed Customs officers on two of their operations on 9 Apr.
LUCKLESS BUYERS...
They end up paying $500 for a packet of illegal cigs
Lured by cheap buy, but burnt by hefty fines
By Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
April 20, 2009
SORRY: This foreign worker pleads (with raised hands) with Customs officers to 'give chance'. He had bought some illegal smokes and was slapped with a hefty fine. TNP PICTURES: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
WITH hands clasped, some begged to be given a chance.
Others, like one foreign worker caught for buying contraband cigarettes, surrendered to fate.
Resigned to a hefty fine, the inconsolable worker rested his forehead on a table.
What seemed like a bargain for the many buyers of illegal cigarettes turned sour on 9 Apr.
The New Paper on Sunday accompanied Customs officers in what was an exclusive glimpse into operations to weed out buyers of illegal cigarettes.
Instead of the $50 a carton for illegal smokes, those nabbed would now have to pay $5,000 a carton.
We saw at least two people fined $5,000 each that Thursday night.
TOUGH CHASE: A Customs officer chasing an illegal cigarette peddler who had earlier jumped into this 2.5m deep drain. The peddler left his plastic bag of contraband cigarettes in the drain. TNP PICTURES: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
Operation Big Sweep
The day-time operation conducted island-wide nabbed 84 offenders, including 22 near Jurong Point.
Of those arrested, 58 were Singaporeans.
Each offender was fined $500 a packet of illegal cigarettes.
About 190 packets seized.
During a night operation at Yew Tee, officers conducted checks on individuals and vehicles leaving the estate.
Some offenders, like one taxi passenger who initially denied having contraband cigarettes, later confessed when a packet was discovered.
Customs officers found four packets of clove cigarettes hidden among two plastic bags of fish and crabs belonging to the passenger.
Fined
He was later fined $2,000.
Sometimes motorists use vehicle compartments and personal belongings to hide illegal cigarettes, the Customs spokesman said.
Motorists speeding off to avoid detection are also a major danger, not only to officers, but to other road users.
That night, 22 offenders were caught - 17 Singaporeans and five foreigners - with 135 packets of illegal cigarettes.
Singapore Customs' enforcement efforts have become more effective with the introduction of the new SDPC (Singapore Duty Paid Cigarettes) marking regulation since 1 Jan, said a Customs spokesman.
CHECKS: Customs officers stop a taxi to check for contraband cigarettes. They examine some confiscated cigarettes at the end of an operation at Yew Tee industrial estate. TNP PICTURES: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
'When the penalty was made known to the offenders, they were shocked and lost for words. You can even see their jaw drop. They blame themselves for their bad luck,' said Higher Customs Officer Kevin Stewart.
Offenders were escorted to a makeshift command post where officers tried to establish where the cigarettes were bought.
The nature of the offence was explained to offenders.
A deferred payment may be offered to an offender, if more time is needed to raise funds.
Officers also use brochures to explain customs regulations, to prevent those nabbed from repeating the offence.
Said Assistant Director-General of Customs (Intelligence and Investigations) Lee Boon Chong: 'In these tough economic times, attempting to reap savings by buying illegal cigarettes will cost you even more when the fine of $500 per packet sets in.
'It is not worth it at all. So the best thing to do is to stay away from illegal cigarettes, or better still, quit smoking altogether.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECKLESS SELLERS...Nothing's too risky
THEY were so desperate to escape that they risked life and limb.
At the first hint of an ambush by Custom officers, the illegal cigarette peddlers scattered in all directions, some leaping into deep canals, fleeing into forested areas or dashing across roads.
The New Paper on Sunday team got a glimpse of their desperation when we saw one seller jump into a 2.5m deep drain.
It was a night operation code-named Tangkap Pembeli 4 (Operation Catch Buyer), held near Yew Tee industrial estate. In a storm drain close to an ATM machine in the estate, Customs officers seized 70 packets of cigarettes left behind by a fleeing peddler.
One Customs officer said Yew Tee 'presents an enforcement challenge... not only to Singapore Customs, but to other enforcement agencies as well'.
Explained Mr Yeo Ban Meng, deputy head of the Suppression and Community Engagement Branch: 'Owing to the jungle-like terrain and the vast area, our officers require special training in terms of search and arrest.'
Peddlers pose a challenge, Mr Yeo said.
'The bottom line is still the safety of our officers. We would not want to risk endangering our officers,' he said.
'At the same time, we are also continuously adjusting our strategies to tackle this problem. If we can't get the bad guys this time, we will at the next round.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You hide, we seek
IN the ongoing battle against the sale of contraband cigarettes, the law is gaining the upper hand.
With the mandatory SDPC markings on each cigarette, it's easier to spot illegal cigarettes.
Yet, it takes some covert work by undercover Customs officers to flush out offenders who often engage in 'smokescreen' tactics to evade the law.
The New Paper on Sunday got an exclusive peek when we followed Customs officers on two of their operations on 9 Apr.
