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Good
riddance!
Customs officers
go all out to squash contraband cigarettes
Singapore Customs has stepped up its
enforcement efforts to crush contraband cigarette cases. As
a result, from January to June 2007, more cigarettes and offenders
were seized. The agency will persist in its efforts and also
encourage greater public involvement to fight cigarette smuggling
collectively.
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| Customs officers have
found contraband goods hidden in the most unlikely
places – coffins! |
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In the first half of 2007, Singapore Customs seized 2.5 million
packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes with duty and GST value of
$18.8 million. This is an increase over the 2.3 million packets
with duty and GST value of $17.5 million seized in the same
period in 2006.
The total number of persons caught for cigarette offences catapulted
184% from 4,110 in 2006 to 11,689 in 2007. Of these, 653 were
arrested and charged in Court while 11,036 had their offences
compounded.
The whopping increase in the number of offenders caught is the
result of the department’s effectiveness as well as greater
cooperation with other enforcement agencies.
Special Enforcement Teams from Singapore Customs are out in
full force to focus on illegal street peddlers and end-consumers
who buy contrabands. In the first half of 2007, a total of 3,084
buyers were caught – that’s 36% more than the whole
of 2006.
For every packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized, buyers face
a minimum fine of $200 or prosecution in Court.
Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing
or dealing with contraband cigarettes are serious offences under
the Customs Act. On conviction by the Court, offenders can be
jailed and fined. The vehicles used in the commission of the
offence can also be confiscated.
Singapore Customs, which has intensified its education efforts
to advise the public not to get involved in contraband cigarettes,
will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach to curb cigarette
smuggling.
| Enforcement
Achievements at a Glance |
| Enforcement Results |
Jan to Jun 2007 |
Jan to Jun 2006 |
2006 (entire) |
No of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized
(in packets) |
2.5 million |
2.3 million |
5.3 million |
| Total duty and GST involved |
$18.8 million |
$17.5 million |
$37.6 million |
| Persons arrested and charged in Court |
653 |
509 |
1,186 |
| Persons with offences compounded |
11,036 |
3,601 |
8,081 |
| Total no. of offenders |
11,689 |
4,110 |
9,267 |
| No. of tip-offs received |
1,004 |
740 |
1,314 |
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| Copyright © 2007
Singapore Customs. All Rights Reserved. |
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