- Joined
- Aug 20, 2022
- Messages
- 23,698
- Points
- 113
Woman tried to exit Changi Airport arrival hall without declaring luxury bag, wallet & 3 pieces of jewellery, fined S$5,000
For duties and GST evasion.
Belmont Lay
December 01, 2025, 11:56 AM
In the first 10 months of 2025, 23,742 travellers were caught across air, land, and sea checkpoints for not declaring dutiable and taxable goods brought into Singapore.
The total penalty imposed was more than S$7.1 million, a Dec. 1 Singapore Customs media release stated.
More than 2023 and 2024
In the same period in 2023 and 2024, 7,139 and 13,099 travellers were caught, respectively.The total composition sum imposed was more than S$2.3 million in 2023 and close to S$3.5 million in 2024.
Singapore Customs works with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to conduct checks and deter violations across all checkpoints, the media release added.
Max fine of S$5,000
Of the cases this year, 142 offenders were issued the maximum penalty of S$5,000 for making incorrect or incomplete declarations to Singapore Customs.There were 46 such offenders in 2024 and 51 offenders in 2023.
Common items not declared
The release added that Singapore Customs continues to observe common violations, consistent with previous years, which involve duty-unpaid and exceeding duty-free allowance cigarettes and alcohol, as well as commercial goods, apparel and accessories, and consumer goods.These other goods include renovation materials, clothing, mobile phones, and skincare products.
Singapore Customs also provided details on some of the cases that were detected, which resulted in the imposition of fines.
On Jul. 31, 2025, an arriving male traveller at the Singapore Cruise Centre was found with 544 pieces of assorted fishing lures intended for commercial purposes.
A composition sum of S$1,130 was imposed.
On Oct. 9, 2025, a male traveller at the Woodlands Checkpoint failed to declare 11 bundles of tee shirts he was delivering to companies in Singapore.
A composition sum of S$2,990 was imposed.
On Oct. 17, 2025, a female traveller arriving from Bangkok was directed for further checks after attempting to exit the arrival hall via the green channel at Changi Airport.
Checks uncovered undeclared new luxury items, including a bag, a wallet and three pieces of jewellery.
A maximum composition sum of S$5,000 was imposed.
On Oct. 18, 2025, a female traveller arriving from Malaysia was directed for further checks after attempting to exit the arrival hall via the Green Channel at Changi Airport.
Checks uncovered an undeclared pewter collectible figurine.
A composition sum of S$565 was imposed.
On Oct. 23, 2025, a male traveller arriving from Woodlands Checkpoints was found with several rolls of furniture laminate intended for commercial purposes.
A composition sum of S$250 was imposed.
All goods subjected to GST
All goods brought into Singapore by travellers, including foreign visitors and residents, are subject to GST, regardless of any foreign sales or value-added tax paid.Under the Customs Act, evasion of customs duty or excise duty is punishable with a fine of up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded or up to two years' jail.
Singapore Customs added that the onus lies on every traveller to declare and
pay the applicable duties and/ or GST for all items exceeding their GST import relief entitlements and duty-free allowances.
They can do so via the Customs@SG web application, or by using the Customs Declaration Kiosks onsite to avoid the hefty penalties
The Customs@SG Web Application allows travellers to make advance declaration and payment for their dutiable or GST goods up to three days before arrival.
Detailed information on GST import relief entitlements and duty-free allowances can be found on the Singapore Customs Guide for Arriving Travellers website.
All photos via Singapore Customs
