Illegal cigarette buyers caught red-handed by Customs officers posing as deliverymen
Posted on 13 December 2021 | 9,180 views | 14 comments
Osmond Chia
The Straits Times
December 13, 2021 Some smokers thought they were saving money by buying duty-unpaid cigarettes online or from peddlers, but ended up paying a much higher price when the long arm of the law reached out to knock on their doors. One of these buyers, a security officer, 33, opened the door to his Bukit Batok flat to receive a parcel of contraband cigarettes that he had ordered online. But the Singaporean was stunned to be met by officers from Singapore Customs, who posed as deliverymen to catch such buyers.
He is said to have ordered illicit cigarettes several times in the past, but this time, Customs found at his home more than five tins containing 250 sticks in total.
He was one of 15 buyers caught red-handed on Dec 7 to 8 during an islandwide crackdown at about 30 locations to catch those who bought duty-unpaid cigarettes through e-commerce platforms or through peddlers at heavy-vehicle carparks.
Two of these buyers were arrested, and another 13 Singaporean men, aged between 21 and 59, were fined between $500 and $5,000.
On e-commerce platforms, duty-unpaid cigarettes are usually listed at half the price of those legally sold behind the counter.
These sellers illegally evade Customs duty that is calculated based on the number and weight of each stick, and taxes.
Customs officers seized a total of 4,137 sticks of cigarettes during the sting, translating into almost $2,800 of levies evaded.
The Straits Times followed Customs officers to several locations in the West on Tuesday (Dec 7), including the home of the security officer who was arrested and later released on bail.
Believed to be from Indonesia, his parcel was detected by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and handed over to Customs officers, who posed as deliverymen.
The buyer was arrested after accepting the parcel, due to the larger quantity of illicit cigarettes he had purchased.
Amid the pandemic, smokers have turned to e-commerce platforms and online dealers instead of street peddlers to obtain duty-unpaid cigarettes, said Singapore Customs after the sting.
The Straits Times
December 13, 2021 Some smokers thought they were saving money by buying duty-unpaid cigarettes online or from peddlers, but ended up paying a much higher price when the long arm of the law reached out to knock on their doors. One of these buyers, a security officer, 33, opened the door to his Bukit Batok flat to receive a parcel of contraband cigarettes that he had ordered online.
Screenshot of duty-unpaid cigarettes listed on Carousell. PHOTO: ST READER
Screenshots of duty-unpaid cigarettes listed on Shopee. PHOTO: ST READER
Sellers avoid detection by renaming the cigarettes with titles that hint at the original product. PHOTO: ST READER
Peddlers of duty-unpaid cigarettes at heavy-vehicle car parks, caught on customs officers' cameras. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS
Custom officers conducting a controlled delivery operation on a residential unit. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Customs arrested a man and detained his motorbike after purchasing multiple cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes from illegal peddlers. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Source:
The Straits Times
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