Over 5,800 Cartons of Duty-Unpaid Cigarettes Seized in Major Customs Raid скачать в хорошем качестве

Over 5,800 Cartons of Duty-Unpaid Cigarettes Seized in Major Customs Raid

In a major crackdown on tax evasion, Singapore Customs carried out a successful operation on April 25, 2025, at an industrial unit located at Corporation Drive. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than 5,800 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, a lorry, and over $6,000 in cash, believed to be proceeds from illegal cigarette sales. During the enforcement action, officers noticed a man opening the unit's door. He was immediately detained. Upon entering the premises, officers found two other men, numerous brown boxes, and a lorry parked inside. Upon inspection, the brown boxes were discovered to contain a total of 5,861 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Alongside the contraband, officers recovered $6,100 in cash, believed to be linked to the sale of the illegal cigarettes. Three men were arrested on the spot — a 34-year-old Indian national, a 27-year-old Chinese national, and a 22-year-old Malaysian. Further investigations led to the identification of a fourth suspect, a 47-year-old Malaysian man. He was believed to have driven the lorry carrying the contraband from Malaysia into Singapore earlier that day. He was apprehended at Woodlands Checkpoint on the same day. Preliminary investigations revealed that unknown individuals had arranged for the Chinese national and the younger Malaysian to unload and repack the duty-unpaid cigarettes at the Corporation Drive location. The Chinese national had, in turn, allegedly hired the Indian national to assist in unloading the goods from the lorry. Singapore Customs has since seized all the duty-unpaid cigarettes, the lorry used in the operation, and the cash found at the scene. The total amount of duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded in this case is estimated to be approximately $634,851. Court proceedings are currently ongoing for the Chinese national and the two Malaysian suspects. Meanwhile, investigations continue for the Indian national. Singapore Customs emphasized that under the Customs Act and GST Act, it is a serious offence to deal in duty-unpaid goods. This includes buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, or possessing such goods. Offenders can face fines of up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or imprisonment for up to six years. Vehicles used in such illegal activities, as well as any proceeds from the sale of contraband, are also subject to forfeiture. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to upholding Singapore’s customs laws and protecting public revenue. It urged members of the public to report any suspected smuggling or tax evasion activities through their official reporting platform. This operation underscores the effectiveness of Customs’ ongoing enforcement efforts and serves as a reminder of the serious consequences for those involved in illegal trading of duty-unpaid goods. Please like and subscribe for more future updates! Social Media Youtube:    / @lakopinews   Tiktok:   / lakopinews   Instagram:   / lakopinews   Website: https://lakopinews.com/ For News Contribution or Advertise with us, contact: Email: [email protected] #lakopinews #sg #sgnews #newssg #news #singapore #singaporenews #crime #sgcrime #crimesg #shorts