5,635 cartons of 'decorative items' that turned out to be duty-unpaid cigarettes seized

AsiaOne
December 10, 2016

What were registered as decorative items and picture frames turned out to be cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Singapore Customs said in a press release on Saturday (Dec 10) that officials were keeping a close watch as a shipment imported from China- declared as decorative items - was delivered to a self-storage facility.

As officials swooped in on the self-storage facility located in the north-eastern part of Singapore on Dec 7, they discovered 3,438 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes that were hidden in 79 boxes of picture frames.

A second raid in the same facility recovered another 2,197 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The total amount of duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) involved amounted to about $437,280, and $44,020 respectively.

Investigations are ongoing.

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.

debwong@sph.com.sg