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SINGAPORE: Ten people were arrested and more than 2,600 boxes of smuggled cigarettes were seized in various operations on the island last week, Singapore Customs said on Friday (October 16).
In two of the operations, authorities raided two Housing Board apartments at King George’s Avenue and Serangoon North Avenue 4 that were used for the storage and sale of cigarettes without paying.
Two Singaporeans and a Chinese citizen were arrested. Authorities also seized 639 boxes and 20 packages of smuggled cigarettes.
READ: Over 7,500 tax-free cartons of cigarettes found in trucks at Tuas Checkpoint
Contraband cigarettes seized in two units of the Housing Board. (Photos: Singapore Customs)
In three other operations at Kang Ching Road in Jurong West, Eunos Industrial Park and Realty Park in Hougang, Singapore customs officials thwarted attempts to retrieve cigarette shipments without paying tax.
The cigarettes were hidden in places like a metal oven, wooden shelves, and an air-purifying unit. Two Chinese citizens and a Singaporean woman were arrested, and 1,596 boxes and 5,942 packs of cigarettes were seized without paying tax.
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The unpaid cigarettes were hidden on wooden shelves. (Photos: Singapore Customs)
Four Singaporeans were arrested in two other raids on Yishun Ring Road and Jurong West Street 93.
The three men and one woman were arrested for storing and handing out cigarettes without paying. Singapore customs officials also seized 369 boxes and 908 packages of cigarettes.
Legal proceedings are ongoing against four of the men and one of the women. Investigations are ongoing for the remaining four men and one woman.
READ: More than 2,700 cartons of smuggled cigarettes seized from trucks in Woodlands and Simei
Unpaid cigarettes found hidden in an air purifying unit shipped to Realty Park. (Photos: Singapore Customs)
In total, a total of 2,604 boxes and 6,870 packs of unpaid cigarettes and a vehicle were seized during the operations, which took place from October 5-9.
The tariff and the goods and services tax (GST) evaded amounted to some S $ 293,700 and S $ 23,590, respectively.
“Buying, selling, transporting, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with goods without paying tax are serious crimes under the Customs Act and the GST Act,” Singapore Customs said in a press release.
READ: 5 Arrested, Over 1,100 Unpaid Cigarette Boxes and Drugs Seized
A vehicle used to store and deliver cigarettes without paying tax on Yishun Ring Road. (Photo: Singapore Customs)
The guilty can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and evaded and / or imprisoned GST for up to six years. Vehicles used in the commission of such crimes are also subject to forfeiture.
Members of the public with information on smuggling or customs duty evasion or GST activities can call the Singapore Customs hotline at 1800-2330000 or use the Customs @ SG mobile app to make a report.
