17 Sep 2007
Say NO to Contraband Cigarettes

Singapore Customs is clamping down demand for illicit cigarettes at the street level.  In the first six months of this year, more than 3,000 buyers of contraband cigarettes from street peddlers were booked.  The number caught was a four-fold jump over the same period last year.  Mr Teo Eng Cheong, Director-General of Customs said, “While Singapore Customs has stepped up enforcement efforts against smuggling syndicates, our actions will be more effective if consumers stop buying contraband cigarettes from illegal peddlers.”  For every packet of contraband cigarettes, buyers stand to face a minimum composition sum of $200 or prosecution in court.   more

9 August  2007
On 9 August 2007, Singapore Customs smashed a cigarette smuggling syndicate using coffins to smuggle contraband cigarettes. Three male Singaporeans aged, 32, 37 and 55 years, were arrested.  37,199 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth about $335,000 were seized from the false-bottom compartment of 33 coffins. The duty and GST on the seized cigarettes totalled $285,317. By "burying" the cigarettes within these coffins, the offenders "buried" themselves as they were charged in Court for committing offences under the Customs and GST Acts.

2 May 2007
Singapore Customs seized 5.3 million packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes in 2006, 141% more than last year. Mr Teo Eng Cheong, the Director-General of Singapore Customs, commented, “Maintaining a strong enforcement against cigarette smugglers will remain our key priority. Offenders should be warned about the severe consequences of selling, buying or smoking contraband cigarettes”. Since August 2006, Singapore Customs has launched a public education programme to complement enforcement efforts.  In all, 85 talks and roads shows were conducted. Some 30,000 posters printed in various foreign languages were distributed to explain the consequences of selling or consuming contraband cigarettes and to invite tip-offs from the public. An anti-cigarette smuggling campaign using bus and taxi ads was launched.

23 March 2007
Singapore Customs and the Singapore Police Force conducted a joint operation to flush out illegal cigarette peddling activities in the Yew Tee area on 23 March 2007.   The operation led to the arrest of 20 Indonesian immigration offenders of whom five were found to have a total of 18 cartons and 84 loose packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. The officers also combed the forested area and seized another 81 cartons and 184 loose packets of  cigarettes. The duty and GST payable on the contraband cigarettes totaled $9,500.  

16 February 2007
On 15 February 2007, a Singapore-based illegal liquor smuggling syndicate was busted in an early morning joint operation between officers of Singapore Customs (SC), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Five men (two Singaporeans, both aged 32 and three Malaysians, aged 29, 38 and 45) were arrested.172 filled bottles affixed with popular liquor brand labels, and assorted bottling paraphernalia such as bottle caps, labels and bottling machines were seized.