SINGAPORE – More than 50 travellers were caught for carrying undeclared cash and engaging in other illegal cross-border activities during a week-long operation at Singapore’s checkpoints.
About 11,000 travellers and 16,000 pieces of luggage were checked at the land, sea and air checkpoints during a joint operation by the police, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Customs and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) from Feb 19 to 25.
Five travellers – four men aged 37 to 52 and a 63-year-old woman – were nabbed for trying to depart from and enter Singapore with undeclared cash in various currencies, said the authorities in a joint statement on March 1.
On Feb 21, a 52-year-old man was caught bringing various currencies amounting to more than $23,000 into Singapore without declaration.
The next day, a 37-year-old man was found attempting to leave Singapore with undeclared cash amounting to $50,000. On a separate occasion, a 48-year-old man was caught bringing into the Republic cash in various currencies amounting to more than $34,000.
On Feb 24, a 44-year-old man was found entering Singapore with undeclared cash in various currencies amounting to more than $42,000.
On Feb 25, a 63-year-old woman was caught attempting to enter Singapore with more than $93,000 in various currencies.
Of these five foreign travellers caught, one was issued a warning notice, while the remaining four were fined $21,000 in all.
Those who enter or depart from Singapore with an amount of cash exceeding $20,000, or its equivalent in foreign currencies, are required to submit an electronic declaration, said the statement.
Fifty-three travellers were caught during the operation for failing to declare and pay taxes on goods such as cigarettes or tobacco products, liquor or items exceeding their goods and services tax (GST) allowance.
The authorities found that a total of $1,285 in duties and GST was evaded. Fines amounting to $21,455 were handed out.
Travellers caught included a 45-year-old man found with 24 packets of cigarettes, a 57-year-old man who brought in four litres of liquor, and a 19-year-old woman found with six toys in excess of the GST import relief allowance.
Officers also nabbed a 29-year-old man, who was found with an e-vaporiser on Feb 24. He was subsequently fined by HSA.
Those found guilty of importing, distributing, selling or offering for sale e-vaporisers may face a fine of up to $20,000 or a jail term of up to 12 months.
Anyone found to be involved in fraudulent evasion, or attempted fraudulent evasion, of any Customs duty or excise duty, may face a fine of up to 20 times the amount of duties and GST evaded, or be jailed for up to two years.
Those who fail to report, or accurately report, the movement of cash exceeding $20,000 may face an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine of up to $50,000 or both.
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