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Cut off from the outside world when Covid-19 swept through dormitories, migrant workers desperate to smoke or drink turned to unorthodox means to get their fix.
In one bedroom, cigarettes and liquor were thrown over the fence. And in at least two specially built dormitories, smuggling rings involving garbage collectors, cleaners and drivers were able to take root.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, some workers told Tamil Murasu and The New Paper how alcohol and cigarettes were smuggled in and sold at marked prices, with some items costing four times as much as outside prices.
At Sungei Tengah Lodge, they implicated those with access inside and outside the bedroom. One resident, who wanted to be known only as Deva, 30, said alcohol has not been allowed in the bedroom since April.
But alcohol, legal and illegal cigarettes and illegal chewing tobacco were smuggled in.
He said garbage collectors brought contraband in their trucks and passed it on to cleaners, who in turn delivered it to a group of selected workers. Residents go to these selected workers to collect their orders.
Deva said in Tamil, “You can get anything here. On my block, there is a room with a man who collects items from the dry cleaner.
“Those who buy alcohol will have to provide him with an empty plastic bottle to fill with alcohol to avoid suspicion by management staff.”
Another resident in his 40s, who wanted to be known as Gopal, said that he had not purchased any contraband items, but that the prices were “common knowledge.”
A pack of cigarettes costs up to $ 40, a 375 ml bottle of whiskey costs about $ 28 and a packet of illegal chewing tobacco costs about $ 25, he said.
Abroad, a pack of cigarettes typically costs between $ 10 and $ 15 while illegal chewing tobacco sells for $ 2.50 to $ 5 a pack.
After some measures in the dormitories were relaxed, allowing some workers to go to work, some allegedly tried to smuggle alcohol by hiding the bottles in food packages, but were caught.
In dorm S11 in Punggol, the food delivery drivers allegedly consumed alcohol and legal cigarettes.
A worker who did not want to be identified said the operations were coordinated by a group of about eight residents, with the items hidden in food packages.
The activities are said to have ended in May after the culprits were caught.
At Westlite Toh Guan, the smuggling was more ad hoc.
A resident who wanted to be known as Muthu said the workers agreed with those living outside to buy the items and dump them over the fence in secluded areas around the bedroom.
He said, “They take the price of everything I buy as commission. So if I buy $ 10 worth of items, I have to pay $ 10 in commission. This is for their expense and risk.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed that the ministry and the police are aware of cases in which unauthorized alcohol and cigarettes were smuggled into bedrooms in recent months.
“These activities were quickly stopped and severe measures have been taken against the residents involved, including the imposition of administrative sanctions by the dormitory operators,” he said.
Before Covid-19, residents were prohibited from drinking alcohol in their rooms, but could smoke and buy and drink alcohol in designated areas.
During the pandemic, the sale and consumption of alcohol was suspended to avoid potential public order problems, but MOM may consider relaxing restrictions as the situation stabilizes, the spokesperson said.
She added: “In the meantime, authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely and will work with dormitory operators to implement measures to prevent a recurrence, including intensifying controls on people and vehicles entering the dormitories.”
A spokesperson for the Centurion Group that manages Westlite Toh Guan and four other dormitories said the incidents of cigarettes and alcohol thrown from the fences occurred primarily during the breaker period.
Nine cases have been detected since May and the items were in small numbers, he said, adding that there is no evidence to suggest they are intended for wider distribution.
These activities violate dormitory rules but do not violate Singapore laws, he added.
“We work closely with Singapore Customs and the police, and in the past nine years operating dormitories in Singapore, we have not experienced any smuggling or sale of illegal products within our dormitories.”
S11 Capital Investments, which manages S11 Dormitory, and TG25, which operates Sungei Tengah Lodge, did not respond to inquiries as of press time.
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