Singapore: On 28 December 2023, a man was arrested in Aljunied after 1,356 cartons of smuggled cigarettes were found in a company truck.
Singapore Customs announced on January 4 that cigarettes were discovered while working in a parking lot at 1 East Avenue, Geylang.
During the operation, officers found paper cartons and 3,190 cartons of unpaid cigarettes in the cargo hold of the truck. A 32-year-old Chinese national was arrested and his cigarettes and truck were seized.
Investigation revealed that the man had been approached by an unknown person on a social messaging platform to collect and deliver cigarettes, but Singapore Customs has not released his name.
Singapore Customs said the man was employed as a delivery driver for a food company and used his company’s truck to transport unpaid cigarettes.
The total amount of customs duties and goods and services tax (GST) evaded amounted to $179,292 (RM630,000).
Court proceedings in this case are ongoing.
The authorities warned that the purchase, sale, possession or delivery of unpaid goods is a serious offense under Singapore law. Violators will be subject to a fine of up to 40 times the customs duty amount and GST evasion, or imprisonment for up to six years, or both.
Vehicles used in such illegal activities may also be confiscated. — The Straits Times/ANN