Four Men Caught in Industrial Unit
Four men were arrested during an enforcement operation by Singapore Customs after being recruited to “unload” and repackage untaxed cigarettes. Officials also seized more than 5,800 cartons of untaxed cigarettes during the operation.
Singapore Customs announced in a statement on 5 May 2025 that enforcement officers conducted an operation at an industrial unit on Corporation Drive in Jurong on 25 Apr 2025.
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The officers observed from a distance and moved in to subdue a man as he opened the door to enter the unit. They followed him inside to investigate and found two more men, along with multiple brown boxes and a lorry.
Customs officers discovered 5,861 cartons of untaxed cigarettes inside the unit, plus $6,100 in cash believed to be proceeds from cigarette sales.
The authorities revealed that the three arrested men were a 34-year-old Indian national, a 27-year-old Chinese national, and a 22-year-old Malaysian national.
Smuggling Attempt Foiled at Checkpoint
Follow-up investigations showed that a 47-year-old Malaysian man allegedly tried to smuggle a batch of untaxed cigarettes into Singapore by driving a lorry from Malaysia on the same day.
His suspicious behaviour exposed him at Woodlands Checkpoint, where he was immediately arrested.
According to Singapore Customs, investigations revealed that the 27-year-old Chinese national and the 22-year-old Malaysian were recruited by criminals to work at the unit, where they were responsible for “helping to unload” and “repackaging” untaxed cigarettes.
The Indian national was called by the Chinese national to help with unloading.
The authorities did not disclose whether the three men were suspected of trafficking untaxed cigarettes.
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The seized untaxed cigarettes should have incurred duties and taxes totalling approximately $634,851. Court proceedings for the Chinese national and two Malaysian nationals are ongoing, while investigations into the Indian national are still in progress.
Under the Customs Act and Excise Act, buying, selling, transporting, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing, or dealing with untaxed goods is a serious offence.
Offenders may face a fine up to 40 times the amount of tax evaded, or imprisonment for up to six years, or both. Vehicles involved in such illegal activities may also be confiscated.
Singapore Customs calls on the public to report any tax evasion activities online.
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