 ICA nabs smugglers of 2,027 packets of cigarettes
TWO Malaysia-registered cars with modified compartments were used to smuggle 2,027 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes over the weekend.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) stopped a Malaysia-registered car driven by a lone Malaysian Chinese male in the morning of June 2.
ICA found duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden beneath the floorboards of both the front and rear passenger seats and at the rear bumper of the car.
The driver, aged 45, claimed to be promised RM$150 (S$68) upon successful delivery of the cigarettes into Singapore. The customs duty and GST payable is about $7,300 and $470.
About an hour later, another Malaysia-registered car driven by a Malaysian Chinese male, was found to have duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a specially constructed compartment under the dashboard and rear passenger sear.
The driver admitted that he knew that about the contraband cigarettes. He claimed that he was offered RM$600 for a successful delivery of the cigarettes. The customs duty and GST payable is about $7,000 and $450.
The driver was also found to be driving without a valid license, and was issued with a traffic summon by the Police.
The cigarettes, vehicles and drivers in both cases were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Upon conviction by the court, first time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded.
For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be jailed for up to two years, as well as being fined.
The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded.  To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | 
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