Duty-unpaid cigarettes found in van at Pandan Loop & warehouse along Jurong Port Road
Singapore Customs has seized its largest inland haul of contraband cigarettes this year, with 17,279 cartons found in Pandan Loop and Jurong Port Road.
Four men were also arrested in the enforcement operations, said the agency in a media release on Monday (8 Dec).
Source: Singapore Customs
2,400 cartons of cigarettes in van
On 30 Nov, officers observed a Singapore-registered van at an industrial building along Pandan Loop.
The vehicle had reversed into a loading and unloading bay, and three men loaded brown boxes into its cargo compartment.
Source: Singapore Customs
Upon inspecting the van, officers uncovered 2,400 cartons of duty‑unpaid cigarettes inside.
Source: Singapore Customs
3,195 cartons of cigarettes in Pandan Loop unit
After the men were questioned, they led officers to a unit in the industrial building.
There, they discovered another 3,195 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, meaning a total of 5,595 cartons were seized in one day.
Source: Singapore Customs
The three men — Indian nationals aged 30, 36 and 39 — were arrested.
A fourth man, the 27-year-old Singaporean van driver, was also arrested.
Source: Singapore Customs
Besides the cigarettes, the van was also seized.
11,684 cartons of cigarettes seized in Jurong
A follow-up operation was conducted the next day (1 Dec), based on information gathered.
Officers headed to a warehouse along Jurong Port Road and found 11,684 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.
Source: Singapore Customs
The massive haul over two days amounted to the evasion of more than S$1.87 million in duties and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Source: Singapore Customs
Court proceedings are ongoing against all four of the arrested men.
Offenders can be fined up to 40 times amount of tax evaded
Singapore Customs said those convicted of offences involving duty-unpaid goods can be fined up to 40 times the amount of tax evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.
All offenders caught will be dealt with “firmly and in accordance with the law”, owing to its “robust and decisive enforcement”, said a spokesperson for the agency, adding:
This case underscores Singapore Customs’ steadfast commitment to detecting and deterring tax evasion.
The spokesperson urged the public to support these efforts by reporting any suspicious activities at https://go.gov.sg/reportcustomsoffence.
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Featured image adapted from Singapore Customs.
