InSYNC

Latest exposé: More devious tactics of illegal cigarette peddlers

Latest exposé: Devious tactics
of illegal cigarette peddlers

Cigarettes were hidden among trash bags at a vacant stall.

Peddlers who think their cigarettes are safe can think again.

Singapore Customs enforcement officers have busted several peddler syndicates and seized loads of duty-unpaid cigarettes during stepped-up enforcement raids and patrols island-wide to crush illegal cigarette activities.

Very often, during their course of duty, the officers come across devious attempts to stash cigarettes away from public view.

While these peddlers may be lucky against the ordinary man on the street, their misdeeds have not escaped the eyes of vigilant enforcement officers — who not only nab customs offenders but also ensure our streets are free from duty-unpaid cigarettes by exposing these devious “cigarette hideouts”.

“What’s cooking…. cigarettes?” — LPG tanks failed to provide a safe haven for illegal cigarettes.

Singapore Customs has intensified enforcement raids to weed out illegal cigarette peddlers and buyers.

In the first half of 2008, 299 peddlers were arrested and charged in court, and 2,549 buyers were fined as much as $5,000 for the offence of buying or smoking such cigarettes. A total of 1.6 million packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes involving over $12 million in duties and GST were seized in 2008.

Enforcement officers are continuing their relentless pursuit of offenders. Singapore Customs has also standardised the composition sum for a packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes bought at $500 with effect from 15 July 2008.

Peddlers tried to hide illegal cigarettes in rubbish bins.

Report illegal cigarettes
Call the Singapore Customs Hotline at 1800-233 0000 to report any illegal cigarette activities. Together, we can crush these cigarette offenders.

Members of the public who consume illegal cigarettes face harsh penalties when caught. By purchasing such cigarettes, they breed and fuel cigarette smuggling and peddling.

Singapore Customs recognises that the public has an important role to play in keeping contraband cigarettes at bay. It will continue to beef up enforcement action and intensify public education efforts to curb demand.