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New Paper
09-07-2025
- New Paper
3 men arrested over evasion of more than $800k in cigarette duties and taxes
Three Malaysian men have been arrested over the evasion of $812,384 in cigarette duties and taxes following an enforcement operation on June 10. A total of 7,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized during the operation in Gul Drive, in Tuas, said Singapore Customs in a statement on June 17. During the operation, Customs officers observed the trio, aged 40, 30 and 24, transferring brown boxes between two Malaysian-registered vehicles, said the statement. Some 7,400 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from a prime mover attached to a trailer, and another 100 cartons were seized from a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Investigations revealed that the vehicles had entered Singapore separately. Some 7,400 cartons of unpaid-duty cigarettes were seized from a prime mover attached to a trailer. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS The 30-year-old suspect had allegedly driven the prime mover with cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden among coffee products. The 24-year-old suspect had allegedly assisted in transferring the cartons to the MPV, while the 40-year-old was allegedly tasked with delivering them to customers in Singapore. The three suspects are believed to have been recruited by unidentified individuals in Malaysia. Another 100 cartons were seized from a multi-purpose vehicle. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS Court proceedings are ongoing. Those involved in any fraudulent evasion of duty or goods and services tax (GST) can be fined up to 40 times the amount of goods and services tax evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both. Vehicles seized in such offences will also be forfeited.
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Straits Times
3 men arrested over evasion of more than $800k in cigarette duties and taxes
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A total of 7,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized during the operation in Gul Drive, in Tuas. SINGAPORE - Three Malaysian men have been arrested over the evasion of $812,384 in cigarette duties and taxes following an enforcement operation on June 10 . A total of 7,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized during the operation in Gul Drive , in Tuas, said Singapore Customs in a statement on June 17. During the operation, Customs officers observed the t rio, aged 40, 30 and 24 , transferring brown boxes between two Malaysian-registered vehicles , said the statement. Some 7,400 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from a prime mover attached to a trailer, and another 100 cartons were seized from a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Investigations revealed that the vehicles had entered Singapore separately . Some 7,400 cartons of unpaid-duty cigarettes were seized from a prime mover attached to a trailer. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS The 30-year-old suspect had allegedly driven the prime mover with cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden among coffee products. The 24-year-old suspect had allegedly assisted in transferring the cartons to the MPV, while the 40-year-old was allegedly tasked with delivering them to customers in Singapore. The three suspects are believed to have been recruited by unidentified individuals in Malaysia . Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to hire 1,000 new educators annually in the next few years, up from 700 Singapore Pritam's appeal against conviction and sentence over lying to Parliament set for Nov 4 Asia Why Japan and South Korea are on different paths in the latest US trade salvo World Trump says steep copper tariffs in store as he broadens his trade war Opinion Hyper-competitive classrooms feed the corporate world's narcissist pipeline Singapore Female primary school teacher allegedly committed sex acts with underage male student Singapore Man charged after he allegedly threw glass bottle at bus window, injuring passenger Singapore Police officer taken to hospital after motorcycle accident on PIE Another 100 cartons were seized from a multi-purpose vehicle. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS Court proceedings are ongoing. Those involved in any fraudulent evasion of duty or goods and services tax (GST) can be fined up to 40 times the amount of goods and services tax evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both. Vehicles seized in such offences will also be forfeited.
The Star
17-06-2025
- The Star
Three Malaysians arrested in Singapore for evading over RM2.69mil in cigarette duty and tax
Two of the men arrested following enforcement operations by Singapore Customs on May 9 and 10. -- PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS via The Straits Times/Asia News Network SINGAPORE (Bernama): Three Malaysian men have been arrested for suspected evasion of S$812,384 (RM2.69 million) in cigarette duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) following an enforcement operation at Gul Drive. In a statement, Singapore Customs said that during the operation on June 10, its officers observed the three men, aged 24, 30, and 40, transferring brown boxes between two Malaysian-registered vehicles parked by the roadside. "Officers moved in to conduct checks and found 7,400 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in a prime mover attached to a trailer, and 100 cartons in a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). "The three men were arrested at the scene. Both vehicles and the duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized,' the agency said on Tuesday, adding that the two vehicles had entered Singapore separately. Singapore Customs said the 30-year-old suspect had allegedly driven the prime mover from Malaysia, with the duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed among boxes of coffee products. The 24-year-old allegedly assisted with transferring the duty-unpaid cigarettes to the MPV, while the 40-year-old was allegedly tasked with delivering them to customers in Singapore. All suspects are believed to have been recruited by unidentified individuals in Malaysia. Court proceedings are ongoing. Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing, or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used in such offences are also subject to forfeiture. - Bernama
Straits Times
31-05-2025
- Straits Times
Nearly 200 travellers fined for not declaring large cash amounts, evading GST and taxes on tobacco
A traveller was caught for not declaring his GST-payable items, which include collectible toys and a pair of branded shoes. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS Nearly 200 travellers fined for not declaring large cash amounts, evading GST and taxes on tobacco SINGAPORE - Nearly 200 travellers were caught at the land, sea and air checkpoints for not declaring more than $20,000 in cash, not declaring or paying taxes on tobacco and other goods. The authorities nabbed 14 foreign travellers carrying cash exceeding $20,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency into or out of Singapore without making a declaration or declaring inaccurate amounts. Four of them, men aged between 26 and 71, were caught on May 21 bringing cash of various currencies amounting to between $20,700 and $380,139 across Singapore borders. Another traveller, a 55-year-old man, was caught two days later making an inaccurate declaration when moving $399,965 and RM1,621 (S$492) into Singapore. The cash is suspected to be linked to the traveller's unlicensed moneylending activities, said the authorities. The offenders were caught during a week-long operation carried out by government agencies between May 21 and May 27, said the Singapore Police Force, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Customs, National Parks Board, and Health Sciences Authority in a joint statement on May 31. During the week-long operation, the authorities conducted enhanced checks on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE Four of the 14 travellers were given warnings, while seven were fined a total of $27,000. Others are still under probe, and one has been charged with possessing property obtained from criminal activities. During the operation, the authorities conducted checks on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints. More than 19,000 travellers and 1,600 vehicles were identified for checks, and more than 26,000 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched, the statement said. During the week-long operation, the authorities conducted enhanced checks on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE It is a crime not to report cash or currency of more than $20,000 when crossing Singapore's borders. If found guilty, offenders can be fined up to $50,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. The cash can also be confiscated. 'Smuggling cash across borders is a way by which criminals launder proceeds of crime. Singapore will not tolerate such activities, said the police commercial affairs department director David Chew. During the week-long operation, the authorities conducted enhanced checks on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE Other travellers were found with Pop Mart toys and branded shoes, which they failed to declare. The authorities caught 153 travellers for failing to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes or tobacco products, liquor exceeding the duty-free allowance, or goods exceeding goods and services tax import relief allowances, such as souvenirs and gifts. During the week-long operation, the authorities conducted enhanced checks on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE The total duty and GST evaded by these travellers amounted to $10,754, and they were fined a collective $35,165. In one case, a traveller was caught carrying 20 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Another had undeclared luxury goods and Popmart toys, while a third had four litres of Chinese liquor in excess of duty-free allowances. A traveller did not declare the four litres of Chinese liquor that was in excess of his duty-free allowance. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS On May 26, five male travellers aged between 26 and 45 were caught possessing e-vaporisers upon entering Singapore. HSA officers seized five e-vaporisers and fined the travellers. Anyone found guilty of the fraudulent evasion of customs or excise duties can face a fine of up to 20 times the amount evaded, or a jail term of up to two years. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
22-05-2025
- New Paper
3 arrested for allegedly evading over $936k in cigarette duties and taxes
Three men were arrested for allegedly evading more than $936,000 in cigarette duties and taxes following enforcement operations earlier in May. In a media statement on May 22, Singapore Customs said officers seized a lorry, 8,642 cartons and one packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes during operations on May 9 and 10 in Bukit Batok Crescent and Tampines Industrial Crescent. The total duty and goods and services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $936,093, the statement added. On May 9, Customs officers observed a 39-year-old Chinese national pushing a trolley loaded with brown boxes towards a parked lorry at an industrial building in Bukit Batok Crescent. Two other men - a 25-year-old Singapore permanent resident and a 33-year-old Chinese national - were also seen transferring boxes into the lorry. When officers moved in to conduct checks, the 39-year-old man fled in a van but was later nabbed at a carpark in Lorong 25A Geylang. A total of 4,320 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, along with a consignment of stretch film, were found in the lorry, at the industrial building's lift lobby and in one of the units. A search of the 33-year-old man's residence uncovered an additional two cartons and a packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Investigations revealed that the 39-year-old man had allegedly been engaged by an unknown individual to deliver boxes of duty-unpaid cigarettes from a warehouse in Tampines Industrial Crescent to Bukit Batok Crescent. The 25-year-old was believed to have been separately hired to drive the lorry and assist the 33-year-old in delivering the duty-unpaid cigarettes to customers. Singapore Customs conducted a follow-up operation on May 10 at a warehouse in Tampines Industrial Crescent, where officers discovered another 4,320 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed within six pallets, along with another consignment of stretch film. A lorry, 8,642 cartons and a packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS All three men were arrested, and court proceedings are ongoing. In its statement, Singapore Customs reminded the public that buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, jailed for up to six years or both. Vehicles used in such offences may also be forfeited. Members of the public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can report it at
