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SINGAPORE: Singapore customs seized nearly 12,000 cartons of unpaid cigarettes in the Tuas industrial zone during several raids in November, Singapore Customs said in a press release issued Wednesday (November 28th).
During the first raid on November 2nd, Singapore Customs arrested three Singaporeans in an industrial unit at Tuas South Avenue 3. The suspects were recovering unacknowledged cigarettes, hidden in concrete slabs at the time of the raid.
A total of 2,400 cartons of unpaid cigarettes were found.
2400 cartons of unpaid cigarettes were found concealed in concrete slabs. (Photo: Singapore Customs)
On November 7, customs officers raided an industrial unit at Tuas South Street 1 and found 5,431 cartons and 29 packages of unpaid cigarettes hidden in six shovel arms.
Five Malaysians have been arrested.
5,431 cartons and 29 unacknowledged cigarette packets were found hidden in six shovel arms. (Photo: Singapore Customs)
The third raid took place on November 24 in a courtyard on Tuas Avenue. Customs officials in Singapore saw four men pick up unpaid cigarettes hidden in eight concrete slabs and load them into a truck.
The four men – one Indonesian, one Malaysian and two Singaporeans – were arrested and a total of 4,148 cartons of unpaid cigarettes were seized.
The 4,148 cartons of unacknowledged cigarettes, hidden in eight concrete slabs, were loaded into a truck. (Photo: Singapore Customs)
The total amount of customs duties and the goods and services tax avoided is approximately $ 1,074,390 and $ 78,520 respectively, Singapore Customs reported.
"We advise owners and managers of industrial premises to exercise due diligence to prevent their unions from using their premises for unpaid cigarette-related activities," said Yeo Sew Meng, Assistant Director-General of Singapore Customs, to the Information.
"They should tighten access controls at their premises and look for warning signs such as people seeking to rent premises in the short term, paying cash and not being able to provide a credible business purpose for renting."
Persons convicted of the purchase, sale, transport, delivery, storage, custody, possession or merchandise with unpaid goods will be fined up to 40 times the amount of the tax. and tax avoided, six years in prison, or both. Vehicles used to commit such offenses are also likely to be confiscated.
Members of the public who are aware of these activities can call the Singapore Customs Hotline at 1800-2330000 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. They can also use the Customs @ SG mobile app, available for download on the Apple Store or on Google Play.
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