The next time you travel by plane, you may be approached to take on extra luggage.
Despite efforts at enforcement, baggage touts have been waiting at the check-in aisles of flights leaving Singapore for places like Chennai, Sri Lanka and Yangon.
They target travellers with small or lighter bags and ask them to take on pieces of bulky luggage to check in as their own, in exchange for cash payment of between $5 and $10 per kilogram. These items include electronic goods such as large-screen TVs and computers, dropped off outside the departure hall by a driver in a delivery van.
Aged between their 30s and their 40s, the mostly-male touts travel together in groups of five or more.
They will accompany the passenger who agrees to take on the goods to check in and hand the money over either once the item passes through smoothly, or on occasion, when the item has arrived at its destination securely.
The touts also approach passengers who looked like they were carrying too much luggage, offering to take on their excess baggage for about $12 per kilogram, instead of the usual $15 charged by most airlines.
“It’s not a nice thing to see, especially in our posh airport,” said businessman James Nair, 45, a Singaporean. “And it’s a problem that’s been getting worse recently,” he added, speaking to The Sunday Times.
One traveller, foreign worker Raj Rajan, 29, saw it as a way to make a quick buck. He checked in a 20-kilogram TV set and received $150 when he was cleared for the flight.
He felt the immediate benefits outweighed the danger of potentially carrying contraband items as he needed the cash. But he changed his tune in the middle of the interview when interrupted by a tout, saying, “Sorry, I’m carrying this for my uncle.”
Importer Aung Soe, 35, another outbound traveller, said he was approached by touts twice so far this year but had told them off each time.
“I want to have a peaceful flight and not be worried about what the boxes might hold,” he said. “I could be in deep trouble if it were drugs or something else as bad.”
Changi Airport Group said it is aware of the existence of these touts and that airport auxiliary police (Certis CISCO) conducts anti-touting patrols regularly at its four terminals. People who are found offering baggage-pooling deals are issued stern warnings, with repeat offenders being handed over to the police.
Officers have issued warning letters to five offenders and four others were passed on to the police this year. Carrying another person’s luggage is not illegal but people caught touting in public places can be fined between $1,000 and $5,000 and could also be jailed up to six months.
“The airport remains vigilant and is working closely with the relevant agencies to monitor such activities,” said a Changi Airport spokesperson. “We remind travellers to refrain from accepting items from other travellers in their baggage as these may be contraband items.”
Despite efforts at enforcement, baggage touts have been waiting at the check-in aisles of flights leaving Singapore for places like Chennai, Sri Lanka and Yangon.
They target travellers with small or lighter bags and ask them to take on pieces of bulky luggage to check in as their own, in exchange for cash payment of between $5 and $10 per kilogram. These items include electronic goods such as large-screen TVs and computers, dropped off outside the departure hall by a driver in a delivery van.
Aged between their 30s and their 40s, the mostly-male touts travel together in groups of five or more.
They will accompany the passenger who agrees to take on the goods to check in and hand the money over either once the item passes through smoothly, or on occasion, when the item has arrived at its destination securely.
The touts also approach passengers who looked like they were carrying too much luggage, offering to take on their excess baggage for about $12 per kilogram, instead of the usual $15 charged by most airlines.
“It’s not a nice thing to see, especially in our posh airport,” said businessman James Nair, 45, a Singaporean. “And it’s a problem that’s been getting worse recently,” he added, speaking to The Sunday Times.
One traveller, foreign worker Raj Rajan, 29, saw it as a way to make a quick buck. He checked in a 20-kilogram TV set and received $150 when he was cleared for the flight.
He felt the immediate benefits outweighed the danger of potentially carrying contraband items as he needed the cash. But he changed his tune in the middle of the interview when interrupted by a tout, saying, “Sorry, I’m carrying this for my uncle.”
Importer Aung Soe, 35, another outbound traveller, said he was approached by touts twice so far this year but had told them off each time.
“I want to have a peaceful flight and not be worried about what the boxes might hold,” he said. “I could be in deep trouble if it were drugs or something else as bad.”
Changi Airport Group said it is aware of the existence of these touts and that airport auxiliary police (Certis CISCO) conducts anti-touting patrols regularly at its four terminals. People who are found offering baggage-pooling deals are issued stern warnings, with repeat offenders being handed over to the police.
Officers have issued warning letters to five offenders and four others were passed on to the police this year. Carrying another person’s luggage is not illegal but people caught touting in public places can be fined between $1,000 and $5,000 and could also be jailed up to six months.
“The airport remains vigilant and is working closely with the relevant agencies to monitor such activities,” said a Changi Airport spokesperson. “We remind travellers to refrain from accepting items from other travellers in their baggage as these may be contraband items.”