Birthday cakes, money bouquet among undeclared goods found at Singapore checkpoints

A total of 60 travellers were caught from Sep 22 to Sep 28 for failing to declare and pay taxes on goods brought into Singapore, including birthday cakes and a money bouquet. (Photo: Singapore Customs)

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SINGAPORE: A total of 60 travellers were caught for failing to declare and pay taxes on goods brought into Singapore.

The cases were detected during a multi-agency enforcement operation conducted by the Singapore Police Force, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs between Sep 22 and Sep 28, the agencies said on Monday (Oct 5).

The operation was part of enforcement efforts to detect and enforce against non-compliance with Singapore’s cross-border cash reporting regime and other illegal cross-border activities, the agencies added.

Nearly 13,000 travellers and 350 vehicles were checked, with more than 14,000 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags scanned or searched across the week-long operation.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The 60 travellers caught had failed to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products, liquor exceeding their duty-free concession and goods exceeding Goods and Services Tax (GST) import relief. The total duty and GST evaded amounted to S$7,810 (US$6,100), with composition sums of S$17,705 imposed. The cases included a traveller carrying multiple packages of mooncakes, two boxes of birthday cakes and a money bouquet intended for commercial purposes. Another traveller had undeclared luxury bags for personal use, while a third had undeclared jewellery for personal use. All offences were compounded, the authorities said.

The 60 travellers caught had failed to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products, liquor exceeding their duty-free concession and goods exceeding Goods and Services Tax (GST) import relief.

The total duty and GST evaded amounted to S$7,810 (US$6,100), with composition sums of S$17,705 imposed.

The cases included a traveller carrying multiple packages of mooncakes, two boxes of birthday cakes and a money bouquet intended for commercial purposes.

Another traveller had undeclared luxury bags for personal use, while a third had undeclared jewellery for personal use.

All offences were compounded, the authorities said.

A traveller at Tuas Checkpoint did not declare multiple packages of mooncakes, two boxes of birthday cakes and a money bouquet, which were intended for commercial purposes. (Photo: Singapore Customs)

A traveller at Changi Airport was found in possession of three undeclared luxury bags. (Photo: Singapore Customs)

Those found guilty of fraudulently evading duty or GST can be fined up to 20 times the amount evaded and jailed for up to one year.

“It is the responsibility of all travellers to make accurate and complete declarations of all goods exceeding their duty-free concession and GST import relief in their possession,” the authorities said.

Declaration and payment for goods can be made up to three days before arrival online or on the MyICA mobile app. Alternatively, travellers may also use the customs declaration kiosks located at air, land and sea checkpoints and terminals upon arrival.

All cigarette and tobacco products must comply with the standardised packaging requirements. Non-compliant products will be disposed of at the checkpoints, the police, ICA and Singapore Customs said.

Authorities conduct checks during a week-long multi-agency enforcement operation. (Photo: Singapore Police Force)

Separately, seven travellers were also detected bringing cash exceeding S$20,000 into Singapore without declaration.

On Sep 22, a 46-year-old male foreign traveller attempted to bring S$31,000 into Singapore without declaration.

The next day, a 40-year-old female foreign traveller tried to bring about S$51,000 into Singapore without declaration.

On Sep 27, a 44-year-old male foreign traveller attempted to bring about S$23,800 into Singapore without declaration.

The following day, four travellers attempted to bring in cash totalling about S$96,400 into Singapore. They consisted of two 41-year-old male foreign travellers carrying S$30,000 and S$20,400 respectively and a 51-year-old female traveller and a 52-year-old male foreign traveller carrying about S$46,000 collectively.

Two of the seven travellers were issued warnings and three of them were issued composition fines amounting to S$13,000 in total.

The remaining two travellers had their cash seized for further investigation.

Seven travellers were detected bringing cash exceeding S$20,000 into Singapore without declaration during a week-long multi-agency enforcement operation. (Photo: Singapore Police Force)

The authorities said travellers are required to report the cross-border physical movement of cash or bearer negotiable instruments if the total value exceeds S$20,000, or its equivalent in foreign currency. Travellers must submit a declaration electronically within 72 hours before entering or leaving Singapore.

Anyone who fails to report or accurately report the movement of cash or bearer negotiable instruments exceeding S$20,000 may be fined up to S$50,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. A confiscation order may also be issued for any part of the cash relating to the offence.

“Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains a top priority for ICA,” the authorities said.

“ICA will continue to leverage technology and data analytics to strengthen our targeting and detection capabilities, as well as work with the relevant authorities to detect and deter such contraband smuggling activities at the checkpoints.”

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9月22日至28日期间，共有60名旅客因未申报和缴纳入境新加坡物品的税款而被查获，这些物品包括生日蛋糕和一束现金花束。（图片：新加坡海关）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：共有 60 名旅客因未申报和缴纳带入新加坡的货物税款而被查处。

新加坡警察部队、移民与关卡局 (ICA) 和新加坡海关周一（10 月 5 日）表示，这些案件是在 9 月 22 日至 28 日期间，由这些机构联合开展的执法行动中发现的。

各机构补充说，此次行动是执法部门为查明和打击违反新加坡跨境现金申报制度及其他非法跨境活动而开展的工作的一部分。

在为期一周的行动中，近 13,000 名旅客和 350 辆车接受了检查，超过 14,000 件行李和手提包被扫描或搜查。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 这60名被查获的旅客未申报和缴纳香烟、烟草制品、超过免税额度的酒类以及超过商品及服务税（GST）进口减免额度的商品的税款。逃税总额达7810新元（6100美元），并处以17705新元的罚款。这些案件包括一名旅客携带多包月饼、两盒生日蛋糕和一束用于商业用途的钱花。另一名旅客携带未申报的奢侈品包袋供个人使用，还有一名旅客携带未申报的珠宝供个人使用。当局表示，所有违规行为均已处以罚款。

被抓获的 60 名旅客未申报和缴纳香烟、烟草制品、超过免税额度的酒类以及超过商品和服务税 (GST) 进口减免额度的商品的税款。

逃税总额为 7,810 新元（6,100 美元），并处以 17,705 新元的罚款。

这些案件中包括一名旅客携带多包月饼、两盒生日蛋糕和一束用于商业用途的现金花束。

另一名旅客携带了未申报的供个人使用的奢侈品包袋，还有一名旅客携带了未申报的供个人使用的珠宝。

当局表示，所有违法行为均已合并处理。

一名旅客在新加坡大士关卡未申报多包月饼、两盒生日蛋糕和一束压岁钱花束，这些物品系用于商业用途。（图片：新加坡海关）

一名旅客在樟宜机场被发现携带三件未申报的奢侈品包袋。（图片：新加坡海关）

凡被判犯有逃税或消费税欺诈罪者，可处以逃税金额20倍的罚款，并可判处一年以下监禁。

当局表示：“所有旅客都有责任准确、完整地申报其所持有的所有超过免税额和消费税进口减免额的货物。”

旅客可在抵达前三天通过MyICA手机应用程序在线申报并支付货物费用。此外，旅客也可在抵达后使用位于机场、陆路和海路口岸及航站楼的海关申报亭。

所有香烟和烟草制品必须符合标准化的包装要求。警方、移民与关卡局（ICA）和新加坡海关表示，不符合规定的产品将在检查站被销毁。

在为期一周的多部门联合执法行动中，执法部门进行检查。（图片：新加坡警察部队）

此外，还有7名旅客被发现携带超过20000新元的现金入境新加坡而未申报。

9月22日，一名46岁的外国男性旅客试图携带31000新元现金入境新加坡，但未申报。

第二天，一名 40 岁的外国女旅客试图携带约 51,000 新元现金入境新加坡，但未申报。

9月27日，一名44岁的外国男性旅客试图携带约23800新元现金入境新加坡，但未申报。

第二天，四名旅客试图携带总计约96400新元的现金入境新加坡。他们包括两名41岁的外国男性旅客，分别携带30000新元和20400新元；以及一名51岁的女性旅客和一名52岁的外国男性旅客，两人共携带约46000新元。

七名旅客中有两人被警告，三人被处以罚款，总计罚款金额为 13,000 新元。

其余两名旅客的现金被没收，以作进一步调查。

在为期一周的多部门联合执法行动中，新加坡警方查获七名旅客携带超过2万新元现金入境未申报。（图片：新加坡警察部队）

当局表示，旅客如携带现金或不记名流通票据跨境流动，且总价值超过2万新元或等值外币，则须申报。旅客必须在入境或离境新加坡前72小时内以电子方式提交申报表。

任何人如未申报或未准确申报超过20,000新元的现金或不记名流通票据的流动情况，可被处以最高50,000新元的罚款、最高三年的监禁，或两者并罚。此外，法院还可对与该违法行为相关的任何部分现金发出没收令。

“保障新加坡边境安全仍然是新加坡移民与关卡局的首要任务，”当局表示。

“ICA将继续利用技术和数据分析来加强我们的目标定位和侦查能力，并与相关部门合作，在检查站侦查和阻止此类走私活动。”

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