Seized: Illegal cigs that look like the real thing

Mar 21, 2011

Seized: Illegal cigs that look like the real thing

By Tham Yuen-C

The Moon Mountain brand of cigarettes is illegal in Singapore. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS

THE Moon Mountain brand of cigarettes might not be familiar to smokers here, but the packaging will surely be.

With health warnings, pictures of miscarried foetuses and oral-cancer sufferers - even the quit-smoking hotline number prominently displayed - it looks like any pack of cigarettes should.

But the new brand is actually illegal here - brought in by syndicates that have upped their game by disguising their illegal goods.

On March 11, Singapore Customs officers seized 16,500 packs in the first such haul.

Typically, contraband cigarettes ape legal brands from names to packaging - but never included health warnings and cautionary pictures, a requirement in Singapore.

With Moon Mountain, smugglers have included them.

Not only that, they seem to have created their own brand.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.

Why smoke tobacco anymore when there is a good replacement that eliminates the 5-6K chemicals that kills you and is much cheaper then even the contraband in the long run.

"Moon Mountain" cigarettes illegal
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 21 March 2011 1318 hrs
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SINGAPORE: They resemble other brands and come complete with the pictorial health warning.

But Singapore Customs has warned that "Moon Mountain" cigarettes are illegal in Singapore and members of the public should not buy or have them in their possession.

Singapore Customs said the "Moon Mountain" brand of cigarettes is currently not supplied by any local tobacco importer or wholesaler licensed by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Syndicates are believed to have smuggled them into Singapore.

The "Moon Mountain" cigarettes accounted for about half the 32,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized in a Singapore Customs operation earlier this month.

Four men - three Singaporeans and one Chinese national - were arrested for alleged smuggling of the cigarettes.

Two locally registered vehicles were also seized in the operation.

Two of the men were charged in court on March 18, with the Chinese national facing two additional charges for overstaying in Singapore and assault.

Investigations for the other two men are still ongoing.

For possessing a packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, buyers may face a S$500 fine or prosecution in court.

To report illegal cigarette activities, members of the public may call the Singapore Customs Hotline at 1800-2330000

- CNA/fa