2 men arrested after trying to enter Singapore on wooden boat

Two men were arrested for unlawful entry into Singapore on May 21.

The police and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint news release that the ICA and Police Coast Guard (PCG) had detected a wooden craft with two men on board at the sea South of Marina South Pier heading towards Singapore at about 10.30pm.

Both land and sea resources were deployed immediately to apprehend the two men.

At about 11.51pm, the two men, aged 25 and 31, were intercepted and arrested under the Immigration Act.

Under the Immigration Act, the penalties for illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane.

The PCG and ICA said that they take a serious view of attempts to enter Singapore illegally.

Commander of the PCG, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun said, "Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security.

"PCG will continue to work closely with other agencies and stakeholders to stamp out any unlawful attempts to enter Singapore."