Singapore Customs has released information about an operation in which its team arrested two persons, and seized 4,228 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and two vans. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded by those arrested amounted to SGD 457,968.
This information was released yesterday, though the operation at Petir Road was conducted on 23 January 2025.
The Singapore Customs press release said: “During the operation, Customs officers discovered 1,252 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in a parked van. Further investigation using a key found in the van led officers to a second van parked nearby, which contained another 2,976 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Drug paraphernalia were also found in one of the vans, and these were referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigation.”
The release added: “Two 29-year-old Singaporeans, a man and a woman, were arrested at the scene. Investigations revealed that the man was allegedly involved in delivering the duty-unpaid cigarettes. Court proceedings are ongoing against the man, while investigations are ongoing for the woman.”
Under the Customs Act and the GST Act, buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to 6 years. Vehicles used in committing such offences are also subject to forfeiture.
Singapore Customs press release
Members of the public have been urged to share information on smuggling activities or duty or GST evasion. They are asked to report it to Singapore Customs at https://go.gov.sg/reportcustomsoffence.
