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Jan 28, 2009
Couple tried to smuggle ciggies <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Diana Othman </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
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3,250 cartons of cigarettes were found hidden within a damaged bus that was being pulled by a tow truck. -- PHOTO: ICA
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</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--> A SINGAPOREAN couple was caught trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes into the country last Saturday via Woodlands Checkpoint at 8.30pm. The 49-year-old Chinese man and his wife, also 49, tried to throw the authorities off-track by hiding 3,250 cartons, each containing 20 packets of 10 cigarette sticks, in various hiding places within a damaged bus that was being pulled by a tow truck. It was the doors that gave away the deception, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a news release.
No matter how hard an immigration officer tried, he had difficulties opening the bus doors for a routine check, setting off alarm bells in his head. His suspicions were confirmed when the backscatter scanning reflected anomalies in the supposedly spoilt vehicle. Woodlands officers then pried open the doors of the bus and found the cigarettes stuffed in all possible hiding places such as speakers and air-conditioning ducts. A bulk of them was concealed in the luggage compartment. The potential customs duty and GST payable for the duty-unpaid cigarettes amount to over $220,000 and $20,000 respectively.
When questioned, the man said that he was told by his towing company to pull the bus from the Causeway to a car park in Defu Lane. And that he was carrying out his usual routine of making his way back to Singapore after collecting the vehicle. The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If convicted in court, first time offenders can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty evaded and liable to a jail term of maximum three years. For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed for up to six years. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. The lorry used in conveying this contraband is also liable to be forfeited.
Jan 28, 2009
Couple tried to smuggle ciggies <!--10 min-->
<!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Diana Othman </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
3,250 cartons of cigarettes were found hidden within a damaged bus that was being pulled by a tow truck. -- PHOTO: ICA
</td></tr> <tr><td>
</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--> A SINGAPOREAN couple was caught trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes into the country last Saturday via Woodlands Checkpoint at 8.30pm. The 49-year-old Chinese man and his wife, also 49, tried to throw the authorities off-track by hiding 3,250 cartons, each containing 20 packets of 10 cigarette sticks, in various hiding places within a damaged bus that was being pulled by a tow truck. It was the doors that gave away the deception, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a news release.
No matter how hard an immigration officer tried, he had difficulties opening the bus doors for a routine check, setting off alarm bells in his head. His suspicions were confirmed when the backscatter scanning reflected anomalies in the supposedly spoilt vehicle. Woodlands officers then pried open the doors of the bus and found the cigarettes stuffed in all possible hiding places such as speakers and air-conditioning ducts. A bulk of them was concealed in the luggage compartment. The potential customs duty and GST payable for the duty-unpaid cigarettes amount to over $220,000 and $20,000 respectively.
When questioned, the man said that he was told by his towing company to pull the bus from the Causeway to a car park in Defu Lane. And that he was carrying out his usual routine of making his way back to Singapore after collecting the vehicle. The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If convicted in court, first time offenders can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty evaded and liable to a jail term of maximum three years. For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed for up to six years. The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. The lorry used in conveying this contraband is also liable to be forfeited.
