Papayas need more of these Import Talent for $$$ confiscation and fines ... huat ah!

[WangChuk]

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/1...erral&utm_campaign=A1+trending&utm_content=c6

singapore

Chinese national arrested after 14,550 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth more than $1.5m worth seized​

Duty-unpaid cigarettes worth more than $1.5 million were seized from two industrial units in the western part of Singapore.
PHOTO: Singapore Customs
PUBLISHED ON February 23, 2026 11:30 AM BY Sean Ler

A 40-year-old Chinese national has been arrested for his alleged offences relating to duty-unpaid cigarettes amounting to more than $1.5 million.

Singapore Customs said in a media release on Monday (Feb 23) that its officers seized 14,550 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes following two operations on Feb 7 and Feb 11.

During the first operation on Feb 7, officers seized 7,306 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes which were found concealed inside three air cooler units in a unit within an industrial building at Jalan Buroh in Pioneer.

Through follow-up investigations, another operation was launched on Feb 11 at another industrial building at Tuas Bay Close, where they uncovered an additional 7,244 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, also hidden within three air cooler units.

Investigations revealed that an unknown person had allegedly engaged the arrested man to retrieve the duty-unpaid cigarettes from the air coolers and pack them for local distributions.

Court proceedings against the suspect are ongoing.

Those found guilty of buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing, or dealing in duty-unpaid goods can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.

Singapore Customs urged members of the public to report suspicious activities, adding that the operations reflect its resolve to detect and deter tax evasion.

 

[laksaboy]

This scale of operation... it's not a lone wolf job. A syndicate is behind it.

Better start hunting the criminal Tiongs already in the country.

 

[Sustanon]

The 14,550 cartons of cigarettes is just tip of the ice berg and can be considered as cost of doing business (sup sup sui). The amount that managed to go through is probably 100 times more than this lor. How much manpower you have at the checkpoints haaa.... go increase cigarette prices somemore lah... another 20% not enough.. go another 100% lah.... The demand for contraband cigarettes is overwhelming as compared previously. If Limpei have lobang, ish confirm support the contraband one ah.... KNN the garhmen is literally putting money into the syndicate's pockets trying to be follow stupid law implemented by Australia.... you see in Australia, most cigarettes are contraband one lor...

 

[millim6868]

Lol in sg if cig sell cheap it will stop illegal smugglering,lol

 

[congo9]

Lol in sg if cig sell cheap it will stop illegal smugglering,lol

There will be no incentive for people to buy from illegal paddlers. At least that's the logic.

But the PAP Government find that the best and most efficient way to increase tax is via tax. Though it may create black market for cigarettes, the revenue generated from the tax is still the best. The checkpoint becomes busier but they have become more efficient in tackling the smuggling.

I'm not surprised that some on the ground officer will be bought over by the syndicates to facilitate smuggling. After all how much does these ICA and Aetos are paid compared to the relative amount they earn as a officer with Ica or security company ?