Nearly 200 travellers caught for not declaring large cash amounts, evading GST and taxes on tobacco

SINGAPORE - Close to 200 travellers were caught at the land, sea and air checkpoints for not declaring more than $20,000 in cash, or not declaring or paying taxes on tobacco and other goods.

The authorities nabbed 14 foreign travellers carrying cash exceeding $20,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency into or out of Singapore without making a declaration or declaring inaccurate amounts.

Four of them, men aged between 26 and 71, were caught on May 21 bringing cash of various currencies amounting to between $20,700 and $380,139 across Singapore borders.

Another traveller, a 55-year-old man, was caught two days later making an inaccurate declaration when moving $399,965 and RM1,621 (S$490) into Singapore. The cash is suspected to be linked to the traveller’s unlicensed moneylending activities, said the authorities.

The offenders were caught during a week-long operation carried out by government agencies between May 21 and May 27, said the Singapore Police Force, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Customs, National Parks Board and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a joint statement on May 31.

Four of the 14 travellers were given warnings, while seven were fined a total of $27,000. Others are still under probe, and one has been charged with possessing property obtained from criminal activities.

During the operation, the authorities conducted checks on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints. More than 19,000 travellers and 1,600 vehicles were identified for checks, and more than 26,000 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched, the statement said.

It is a crime not to report cash or currency of more than $20,000 when crossing Singapore’s borders. If found guilty, offenders can be fined up to $50,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. The cash can also be confiscated.

“Smuggling cash across borders is a way by which criminals launder proceeds of crime. Singapore will not tolerate such activities,” said Commercial Affairs Department director David Chew.

Other travellers were found with Pop Mart toys and branded shoes, which they failed to declare.

The authorities caught 153 travellers for failing to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes or tobacco products, liquor exceeding the duty-free allowance, or goods exceeding goods and services tax import relief allowances, such as souvenirs and gifts.

The total duty and GST evaded by these travellers amounted to $10,754, and they were fined a collective $35,165.

In one case, a traveller was caught carrying 20 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Another had undeclared luxury goods and Pop Mart toys, while a third had four litres of Chinese liquor in excess of duty-free allowances.

On May 26, five male travellers aged between 26 and 45 were caught possessing e-vaporisers upon entering Singapore. HSA officers seized five e-vaporisers and fined the travellers.

Anyone found guilty of the fraudulent evasion of Customs or excise duties can face a fine of up to 20 times the amount evaded, or a jail term of up to two years.