More than 3,700 cartons of contraband cigarettes seized in Jurong
Two men were also arrested at an industrial building near Corporation Drive.
A total of 3,744 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized by the Singapore Customs. (Photo: Singapore Customs)
SINGAPORE: More than 3,700 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in an operation near Corporation Drive in Jurong, the Singapore Customs said on Wednesday (Sep 7).
Singapore Customs said its officers conducted an operation on Monday at an industrial building near Corporation Drive, where they kept watch on a unit that two men had entered earlier.
As one of the men was exiting the building, the officers moved in to conduct a check.
A total of 3,744 cartons of contraband cigarettes were found wrapped in black trash bags. There were also 288 empty green baskets that were believed to have been used as cover loads for the duty-unpaid cigarettes.
Both men, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi and a 24-year-old Singaporean, were arrested.
The total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to about S$319,730 and $25,440 respectively. Investigations are ongoing.
"Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act," said the agency.
Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.
