Teen among 2 men arrested with 4,150 cartons of contraband cigarettes, evaded over S$400,000 in taxes: Customs
Duty-unpaid cigarettes found in a van on May 3, 2023.
SINGAPORE — Two Singaporean men, aged 26 and 19, were arrested for allegedly possessing 4,150 cartons of contraband cigarettes and evading nearly half a million dollars in duties and taxes.
In a press release on Monday (May 8), the Singapore Customs said that the total duty evaded amounted to about S$407,530 and and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded came to S$36,686, totalling S$444,216.
The duo was arrested during two operations in Tuas on May 3.
Officers from the Singapore Customs noticed a man opening the side compartment of a van containing "black squarish objects" near Tuas Bay Close.
They arrested him after finding 2,072 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the
van during a check.
A second man who was approaching the van was also arrested.
Investigations revealed that the first man was allegedly engaged by the second man to collect the van at the location to deliver the duty-unpaid cigarettes, Singapore Customs said.
Officers found another 2,078 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in another van during a follow-up operation on the same day.
The contraband cigarettes and the two vehicles were seized, and investigations are ongoing.
Under the Customs Act and the GST Act, the buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are regarded as "serious offences", Singapore Customs added.
Offenders face fines of up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, and they can also be jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used for such offences can be forfeited.
