On October 30, three Chinese nationals, aged between 21 and 28, were apprehended for attempting to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes inside soft toys. This incident has been worked on in a two-day operation starting from October 22 and ending on October 23, which then leads to a significant confiscation by Singapore Customs.
As disclosed in a Facebook statement on October 30, officers were alerted to the smuggling attempt following a prompt from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. Subsequent investigations led to the officers to discover seven parcels harboring cigarettes disguised in the form of soft toys that are falsely presented as “decorations” by the suspects.
According to the Straits Time, the contraband seizure encompassed a total of 115 packets and 19 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes, leading to an evasion of approximately $1,279 worth of duties and goods and services tax.
During the timespan of the operation, a 21-year-old Chinese national was intercepted and subsequently arrested on Tao Ching Road. Four parcels containing 70 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were recovered from the suspect alone. According to various reports, the individual had received these parcels on behalf of an overseas associate, who had instructed him to either deliver the items or organize a collection for buyers within Singapore. To address these allegations, the 21-year-old was presented in court on October 25.
Meanwhile, two other Chinese nationals, aged 22 and 28, were punished as well, and are fined of $3,000 and $2,500, respectively, for their involvement in the importation of the remaining three parcels.
