Singapore ，February 7, 2023（AseanAll）—The Singapore Customs reported on February 7 that Singapore Customs arrested two male Singaporeans, aged 30 and 63, and seized 3,550 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 2 February 2023. 

In an operation conducted at a car park in Hougang Ave 3, Singapore Customs officers sighted a 30-year-old male driver of a van unloading brown boxes from the vehicle onto a trolley for collection by a 63-year-old man. Officers conducted checks and uncovered 750 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the van and the trolley. Both men were arrested.

Subsequently, officers conducted follow-up checks at an industrial unit in a building in Aljunied Road and uncovered another 2,800 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the unit. A truck was seized at the open carpark near the industrial building. 

Investigations revealed that the driver had allegedly used the seized truck to deliver duty-unpaid cigarettes to the industrial unit. He then allegedly used the van to collect the duty-unpaid cigarettes from the industrial unit and delivered them to the other man at Hougang Ave 3.

The duty-unpaid cigarettes and the two vehicles were seized. The total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $362,090 and $32,230 respectively. Investigations are ongoing for the 30-year-old male driver.  The 63-year-old man was prosecuted and pending court proceedings.

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. Repeat offenders who are caught with more than two kilogrammes of tobacco products will also face mandatory imprisonment. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are also liable to be forfeited.