Immigration offenders arrested in Singapore falls in first half of 2015: ICA

The total number of Immigration Offenders (IO) arrested by Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) between January and June in 2015 decreased by 4 percent compared to the same period last year, said ICA in its Mid- Year Statistics Report 2015 released on Thursday.

ICA's multi-pronged approach in combating immigration offences through administering strict laws as well as conducting stringent border checks and inland enforcement have kept the IO situation under control.

The number of illegal immigrants arrested in the first six months this year decreased to 133 from 203 during the same period in 2014, which is a 34 percent decline, said ICA. While the number of overstayers arrested increased about 4 percent from 817 to 849.

ICA said 199 harborers and 48 employers were arrested between January and June this year, as compared to 109 and 40 respectively for the same period in 2014.

The increased arrests can be attributed to strong collaboration with the Singapore Police Force and the Ministry of Manpower in conducting inland enforcement against illegal harboring and employment offences.

ICA also works closely with partners such as volunteers, grassroots leaders, real estate agents and community leaders to raise public awareness about the offences of harboring IOs through various outreach programs and initiatives, such as talks and exhibitions.

On contraband smuggling situation, ICA revealed that between January and June, the number of contraband cases detected at checkpoints decreased by about 3 percent from 47,806 in 2014 to 46, 326 in 2015.

ICA also noted that one emerging trend was the smuggling of contraband items through posted parcels or courier services. For the first half of 2015, the number of cases detected in such parcels increased by about 21 percent from 6,588 in 2014 to 7,992 in 2015.

Apart from the more commonly detected methods of concealment such as the use of modified compartments of vehicles, ICA also detected some unusual methods of concealing contraband items using the hollow spaces of goods and in air parcel consignments, which could easily be employed by terrorists to smuggle dangerous materials such as weapons or explosives into Singapore.

ICA said the authority will continue to enforce stringent security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband items.

"We have introduced the Integrated Checkpoints Command earlier this year to strengthen command and co-ordination among the Home Team Departments at the checkpoints. We will continue to remain vigilant and further enhance our security measures to safeguard our borders." said Clarence Yeo, commissioner of ICA. Endi