60 travellers fined S$17.7K for bringing undeclared items into S’pore, including birthday cakes & luxury bags

Travellers caught trying to bring in undeclared items over 1 week in Sept, 7 had undeclared cash

A total of S$17,705 in fines was imposed on travellers entering Singapore who brought in undeclared items over one week in September.

Some of the goods, which were intended for commercial purposes, included mooncakes, birthday cakes, a money bouquet and luxury bags, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs in a joint news release on Monday (5 Oct).

13,000 travellers checked for undeclared items from 22-28 Sept

The multi-agency enforcement operation took place across Singapore’s land, air, and sea borders between 22 Sept and 28 Sept, according to the statement.

Over that week, close to 13,000 travellers and 350 vehicles were subject to enhanced checks at the checkpoints.

More than 14,000 pieces of check-in luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched.

Travellers caught evading S$7,810 in taxes

Eventually, 60 travellers were caught failing to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes and/or tobacco products, alcohol exceeding the duty-free concession, and goods exceeding their Goods and Services Tax (GST) import relief.

The total amount of duties and GST evaded was S$7,810. Thus, S$17,705 in composition sums were imposed.

Under the Customs Act, any person who fraudulently evades duty or GST shall be fined up to 20 times the amount that was evaded. Offenders may also be jailed for up to 12 months.

Mooncakes, birthday cakes & money bouquet among undeclared items

One of the travellers was caught at Tuas Checkpoint with multiple packages of mooncakes and two boxes of birthday cakes.

They also failed to declare a money bouquet. All the goods were intended for commercial purposes.

Another traveller was found in possession of three undeclared luxury bags at Changi Airport. They were for his personal use.

A third traveller had undeclared jewellery, also for personal use.

All travellers have the responsibility to make accurate and complete declarations of all goods they are carrying that exceed their duty-free concession and GST import relief, the statement noted.

7 travellers caught with undeclared cash, S$13K in fines imposed

Separately, seven travellers were caught bringing into Singapore undeclared cash of more than S$20,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies.

Two of them were issued Notices of Warning, while three were fined S$13,000 in total.

The cash of the remaining two travellers was seized for further investigation.

Up to S$51K brought in undeclared by each traveller

The travellers involved comprised a 46-year-old foreign man who attempted to bring S$31,000 into Singapore on 22 Sept.

On 23 Sept, a 40-year-old foreign woman tried to bring in about S$51,000.

A 44-year-old foreign man subsequently attempted to bring in about S$23,800 on 27 Sept.

On 28 Sept, four travellers were caught in three separate cases:

• a 41-year-old foreign man carrying S$30,000
• a 41-year-old foreign man carrying S$20,400
• a 52-year-old foreign man and a 51-year-old woman carrying about S$46,000 together

Those who bring in undeclared cash may be jailed & fined

The authorities reminded the public that it is a statutory requirement to report the cross-border physical movement of cash or Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNIs) if the amount exceeds S$20,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency.

Under Section 60(2) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992, those who fail to accurately report such movement may be jailed for up to three years and/or fined up to S$50,000.

All or part of their cash may also be confiscated.

Safeguarding of borders ‘a top priority’ for ICA

According to the statement, the week-long operation was part of ongoing efforts to detect and enforce against non-compliance with Singapore’s Cross-Border Cash Reporting Regime and other illegal cross-border activities.

Describing the safeguarding of Singapore’s borders as “a top priority” for ICA, it said ICA will continue to leverage technology and data analytics to strengthen targeting and detection capabilities.

It will also work with the relevant authorities to detect and deter contraband smuggling activities at the checkpoints.

Also read: S’pore woman evades GST for luxury goods & teaches others how to do the same, gets S$18K fine

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Featured image adapted from Singapore Customs.