American Science and Engineering (AS & E)2008-09-27 17:59:58
Largest haul of tobacco in '08 uncovered in Singapore with ZBV
2008 largest haul of tobacco uncovered
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority uncovered the largest haul of illegal tobacco products this year when a Malaysian bus driver gave in to temptation and accepted the smuggling job for a mere RM2,000 ($830). The man handed over his vehicle to a smuggling syndicate for illegal modification and a secret compartment was built to conceal the contraband products.
The 57-year-old Chinese man drove his bus to the Arrival Concourse of Tuas Checkpoint on September 23 at about 6.40 pm. ICA officers caught a whiff of unusual odour from the Malaysian registered vehicle and suspected something amiss. A Z-backscatter van was used to scan the bus, thus revealing anomalies at the back of the bus.
The driver had initially denied that there was anything hidden on the bus, but confessed under interrogation that contraband tobacco was stashed in a secret compartment.
A total of 108 packs of cut tobacco leaves weighing about 10kg each were retrieved. The potential customs duty and GST involved on the estimated quantity of 1,080 kg of duty-unpaid tobacco products amount to about $324,000 and $26,500 respectively. This seizure was larger than total seizure of 745 kg of tobacco products (excluding cigarettes) last year.
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. The bus used in conveying this contraband will also be liable for forfeiture.
Under the Customs Act as well as the Immigration Act, vehicles used in the smuggling of contraband items or illegal immigrants will be seized and are liable to be forfeited.
In the first eight months of 2008, there were 2 cases of contraband smuggling involving buses through the land checkpoints. Yet, in just this week alone, ICA officers have busted 3 cases of contraband smuggling using buses. In all, 786 cartons x 200?s of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 1,080 kg of tobacco were uncovered.
2008 largest haul of tobacco uncovered
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority uncovered the largest haul of illegal tobacco products this year when a Malaysian bus driver gave in to temptation and accepted the smuggling job for a mere RM2,000 ($830). The man handed over his vehicle to a smuggling syndicate for illegal modification and a secret compartment was built to conceal the contraband products.
The 57-year-old Chinese man drove his bus to the Arrival Concourse of Tuas Checkpoint on September 23 at about 6.40 pm. ICA officers caught a whiff of unusual odour from the Malaysian registered vehicle and suspected something amiss. A Z-backscatter van was used to scan the bus, thus revealing anomalies at the back of the bus.
The driver had initially denied that there was anything hidden on the bus, but confessed under interrogation that contraband tobacco was stashed in a secret compartment.
A total of 108 packs of cut tobacco leaves weighing about 10kg each were retrieved. The potential customs duty and GST involved on the estimated quantity of 1,080 kg of duty-unpaid tobacco products amount to about $324,000 and $26,500 respectively. This seizure was larger than total seizure of 745 kg of tobacco products (excluding cigarettes) last year.
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. The bus used in conveying this contraband will also be liable for forfeiture.
Under the Customs Act as well as the Immigration Act, vehicles used in the smuggling of contraband items or illegal immigrants will be seized and are liable to be forfeited.
In the first eight months of 2008, there were 2 cases of contraband smuggling involving buses through the land checkpoints. Yet, in just this week alone, ICA officers have busted 3 cases of contraband smuggling using buses. In all, 786 cartons x 200?s of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 1,080 kg of tobacco were uncovered.
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