Enforcement

As the national authority, Singapore Customs (SC) enforces the Strategic Goods (Control) Act.

SC officers are empowered to conduct physical examinations of suspected shipments and sensitive consignments at entry and exit points, or within the Free Trade Zone (FTZ), to verify the authenticity of information given in the strategic goods permit applications and conduct checks to ensure legitimate transfers of strategic goods and strategic goods technology.

Enforcement checks will be carried out based on specific intelligence and risk profiling. Singapore will also work closely with foreign governments in intelligence gathering and information exchange on related strategic goods offences.

Penalties include seizure and forfeiture of goods, court fines and/or imprisonment. The maximum penalties imposed would be up to:

a fine not exceeding $100,000 or 3 times the value of the goods or technology in respect of which the offence was committed, whichever is higher, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both, on a first conviction; or
a fine not exceeding $200,000 or 4 times the value of the goods or technology in respect of which the offence was committed, whichever is higher, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years, or to both, on a second or subsequent conviction.

Offences may also be compounded for up to a maximum sum of $10,000.

Enforcement Efforts

In ensuring that traders comply with the requirements under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act and its Regulations, Singapore Customs conducts regular documentary and physical checks on activities carried out by traders.

Documentary checks or audits are conducted on past shipments carried out by traders to identify if strategic goods offences had been committed.

Singapore Customs takes a serious view of strategic goods offences and will not hesitate to take enforcement actions. Traders are reminded to exercise due care and diligence if they are involved in activities with respect to the transfers of strategic goods and technology.

Members of the public with information on illegal dealings and intangible transfers of strategic goods and technology may contact Singapore Customs Intelligence Hotline at 1800-2330000 or email to customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg.

Enforcement Actions

Minor or technical offences that were compounded:

Year	Number of cases	Goods
2006	6	Tri-ethanolamine, military batteries, fans and blowers
2007	15	Aluminium round bars, tri-ethanolamine, military aircraft parts
2008	13	Flashtubes, night vision equipment, acoustic sound & vibration detection equipment, optical equipment, aircraft parts
2009	37	Milling machines, integrated circuits, chemicals, lenses, communication equipment
2010	43	Integrated circuits with and without cryptographic capability, fibrous or filamentary materials, communication equipment

Press releases of significant strategic goods offences that have resulted in prosecutions:

Year	Offence	Penalty	Press Release
2005	Export of integrated circuits without strategic goods permit	$20,000 fine	Click here
2006	Brokering of arms without registration	9 & 18 months' imprisonment	Click here
2007	Export of electronic items without strategic goods permit	$10,000 fine	Click here