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Singapore Customs seizes largest haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes in 2019
All information below is retrieved from Singapore Customs website. https://www.customs.gov.sg/-/media/cus/files/media-releases/2018/for-website-100519-singapore-customs-media-release.pdfMEDIA RELEASE 10 May 2019Singapore Customs seized the largest haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes in 2019 from two related operations conducted in Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 and Defu Lane 10 on 7 May 2019. More than 9,080 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized and three Chinese nationals, aged between 31 and 36, were arrested in the operations. That evening, a team of Singapore Customs officers conducted a check on a Singapore-registered truck in Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2. Some 3,011 cartons and 10 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found in the truck. The driver and another man who was in the passenger seat were arrested. At the same time, another team of officers who were keeping watch in Defu Lane 10, conducted a search of another Singapore-registered truck that was parked there. They uncovered 6,076 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes from the truck, and the third man was arrested. A follow-up search was conducted in one of the men’s HDB flat in Bukit Batok West Avenue 6, where officers uncovered two cartons and eight packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Investigations revealed that the duty-unpaid cigarettes found in the truck in Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2 were transferred from the truck parked in Defu Lane 10. Investigations also showed that the three men were engaged via WeChat to load and deliver duty-unpaid cigarettes. Court proceedings against the three men are ongoing. A total of 9,089 cartons and 18 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in the operations. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $870,010 and $63,660 respectively. Cash amounting to $3,300, suspected to be proceeds from the sale of duty-unpaid cigarettes, and the two trucks were also seized. 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. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are also liable to be forfeited. Members of public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of Customs duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000, email customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg or use Customs@SG mobile app (which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play) to report these illegal activities.
Changes to the list of items requiring mandatory transhipment and transit permits
All information below is retrieved from Singapore Customs Website. https://www.customs.gov.sg/-/media/cus/files/circulars/circular042019-ver1.pdfCircular No: 04/2019 25 Feb 2019As part of our continuous efforts to enhance Singapore’s strategic goods control system, Singapore Customs has reviewed the Fourth and Fifth Schedules of the Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations (SGCR). We would like to inform that the Fourth and Fifth Schedules of the SGCR have been updated to include new items. The changes will take effect from 1 May 2019. We have listed the category codes of these new items in ANNEX A. Please refer to the Fourth and Fifth Schedules of the SGCR for the full list of items (by their category codes) where permit exemptions under Regulation 13(2) of the SGCR do not apply. If you wish to refer to the detailed item descriptions of these category codes, you may refer to the Strategic Goods (Control) Order 2018 at: sso.agc.gov.sg. We would also like to remind you that strategic goods permits are also required if the goods you are transhipping or bringing in transit are not listed under the Fourth and Fifth Schedules of the SGCR but are known, suspected or that you have been informed that they are intended or likely to be used, wholly or in part, for or in connection with the production or development of Weapons of Mass Destruction. In addition, you need to observe any other controls and prohibitions made under other domestic legislations including the prohibitions made under the Regulation of Imports and Exports Regulations that gives effect to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. You are also reminded that under Regulation 3 of the SGCR, the person who transfers the strategic goods or issues the through bill of lading or through air waybill, or the person acting on his behalf, should ensure that a permit application is submitted at least 5 working days prior to shipment date (from Singapore) for single-use permit and at least 2 months in advance for bulk permits with a complete set of supporting documents for the transfer of strategic goods. This would allow ample time for assessment by Singapore Customs and avoid last minute shipment delays. If you have any further enquiries, clarifications or feedback, please email to customs_stgc@customs.gov.sg.
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