60,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized in 3-day blitz
Posted: 21 July 2011 1304 hrs
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="260"><tbody><tr><td align="right" width="20">
</td><td align="right" width="240">
</td><td class="update" height="80" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="f6f6f6" width="138">Photos </td><td bgcolor="f6f6f6" width="47">1 of 1</td><td bgcolor="f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnPrev" value="<< Previous" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18"></td><td bgcolor="f6f6f6" width="19"><input id="bntPlay" value="Play - Stop" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" height="15" type="image" width="19"></td><td bgcolor="f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnNext" value=" Next >> " src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18"></td></tr></tbody></table>
Boxes containing duty-unpaid cigarettes. </td></tr><tr><td>
</td><td class="update">
</td></tr><tr><td>
</td><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
SINGAPORE: Singapore Customs (SC) has crippled an illegal cigarettes distribution network in Bedok, Hougang and Yishun with the arrest of four men.
Some 60,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in the three-day blitz two weeks ago.
The blitz started on July 5 when customs officers seized 36,240 packets of illegal cigarettes from a truck in Bedok.
In another operation on July 6, the officers spotted illegal cigarettes being unloaded from a car, and another truck at a carpark in Hougang.
The three vehicles and 23,773 illegal cigarettes, found in one of the men's flats in Yishun, were seized.
Singapore Customs said the duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) involved exceeded S$450,000.
A Singaporean man, Ang Wee Koon, aged 37, was sentenced to 21 months' jail for his role in the case.
Another Singaporean, Mohamed Shah Jantan, was sentenced to 20 months' jail.
Court proceedings are still ongoing for the other two: Chinese national Chen Zushun and Singaporean Tan Boon Kiat.
- CNA/cc/ck
