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Singapore seizes 250 kg duty-unpaid chewing tobacco over Christmas weekend

Xinhua, December 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoint Authority (ICA) said on Sunday that it has seized 250 kg duty-unpaid chewing tobacco over the long Christmas weekend.

ICA said officers at the Tuas checkpoint successfully foiled two attempts to smuggle duty-unpaid chewing tobacco into Singapore by hiding the contraband in cargo conveyances, with a total of 28,769 sachets weighing more than 250 kg were seized.

A 51-year-old male Malaysian and a 37-year-old male Malaysian were stopped for inspection on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, with the total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded for the two cases amounted to some 77,420 and 5,420 Singapore dollars (54,908 and 3,844 U.S. dollars) respectively.

The subjects, duty-unpaid chewing tobacco and vehicles for both cases, were handed over to the Singapore Customs for investigation.

According to the prohibited goods list on Singapore Customs website, chewing tobacco, along with chewing gum, are all not allowed to be brought into Singapore.

Singapore adopts a strict regulation on tobacco products. The Ministry of Health has also banned all emerging tobacco products in the country.

Any person who contravenes the ban shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 10,000 Singapore dollars (71,429 U.S. dollars) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.

In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, a fine not exceeding 20,000 Singapore dollars (14,286 U.S. dollars) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both. Enditem