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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Customs (SC) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have seized about 60,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth over S$500,000 in two operations.

On 20 November, officers raiding a warehouse at Tagore Lane in Upper Thomson found some 45,000 packets of contraband cigarettes hidden in 15 rolls of carpets.

The duty and GST evaded amounted to S$344,840 and the value of the duty-unpaid cigarettes is estimated to be S$404,000.

A 28-year-old Malaysian man has been sentenced to 36 months' jail for the offence.

This was the first time that duty-unpaid cigarettes had been found stashed within carpet rolls.

Commenting on the recent joint operations, Mr Lee Boon Chong, Assistant Director-General of Customs (Intelligence and Investigations) said: "We will not condone any smuggling activities which compromise the integrity of the trading system. We have successfully stepped up enforcement efforts to pursue and crush these syndicates, even as they develop new methods of concealment."

Separately on 15 November, the officers seized 15,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth about S$135,000 from a secret compartment under the metal floorboards of a tour bus. The duty and GST on the seized cigarettes amounted to S$115,000.

Five syndicate members – four Singaporeans and one Malaysian – aged between 43 and 55 years, were arrested.

Singapore Customs warns that buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with contraband cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs and GST Acts.

Anyone with information on smuggling activities or evasion of Customs duty or GST should contact the Singapore Customs Intelligence Hotline at 1800-2330000 or email to customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg.