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Singapore seizes 3 mln packs of contraband cigarettes in 2014

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Singapore authorities seized about 3 million packs of contraband cigarettes in 2014, up 3.4 percent year on year, the Singapore Customs said on Wednesday.

The number of vehicles found to have smuggled contraband cigarettes also increased to 243 in 2014 from the 147 vehicles in 2013. Many of the vehicles were found to have modified compartments used to hide the cigarettes.

A total of 23,862 people were caught for contraband cigarette- related offences, including 5,893 caught for smoking or possessing the cigarettes. While the number of offenders fell from the 27,041 caught in 2013, but the figures remained high.

Three contraband cigarette syndicates were disrupted in 2014. More than 57,000 packs of contraband cigarettes were seized from these operations and 11 people were arrested. Endi