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Straits Times
3 days ago
- 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
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Straits Times
3 men arrested for allegedly evading over $936k in cigarette duties and taxes
Two of the men arrested and the duty-unpaid cigarettes seized. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS 3 men arrested for allegedly evading over $936k in cigarette duties and taxes SINGAPORE - Three men were arrested for allegedly evading over $936,000 in cigarette duties and taxes following enforcement operations earlier in May. In a media statement on May 22, Singapore Customs said that officers seized a lorry and a total of 8,642 cartons and one packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes 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, it said. On May 9, Customs officers observed a man - a 3 9-year-old Chinese national - p ushing a trolley loaded with brown boxes towards a parked lorry at an industrial building in Bukit Batok Crescen t. Two other men - a 25-year-old Singapore permanent resident and a 33-year-old Chinese national - were also seen transferring additional 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 lift lobby of the industrial building, and in one of the units in the building. A search of the 33-year- old man's residence uncovered an additional two cartons and one packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Investigations revealed that th e 39-year-old m an was allegedly engaged by an unknown individual to deliver boxes of duty-unpaid cigarettes from a warehouse in Ta mpines Industrial Crescen t to Bukit Batok Crescent. The 2 5-year-old man was believed to have been separately hired to drive the lorry and assist the 33-year-old man in delivering the duty-unpaid cigarettes to customers. Singapore Customs conducted a follow-up operation o n 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 and 8,642 cartons and one packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized during enforcement operations on May 9 and 10. 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 Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
