"Moon Mountain" cigarettes illegal
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 21 March 2011 1318 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> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" height="60">
</td> <td class="update" valign="top" height="80"> <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" type="image" width="18" height="15"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="19">
<input id="bntPlay" value="Play - Stop" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" type="image" width="19" height="15"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="18">
<input disabled="disabled" id="btnNext" value=" Next >> " src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" width="18" height="15"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>
"Moon Mountain" cigarette brand is illegal in Singapore. (Photo from Singapore Customs) </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td class="update">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
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