Two men caught under-declaring cash by $120k at Changi Airport
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Two cash couriers had moved into Singapore an assortment of currency notes amounting to $1.2 million, of which $120,000 was undeclared.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE, ICA, SINGAPORE CUSTOMS
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SINGAPORE – Two male foreigners are under investigation for bringing into Singapore more than $20,000 of Singapore and foreign currencies and making false declarations.
The cash couriers, aged 39 and 53, had moved into Singapore an assortment of currency notes amounting to $1.2 million, of which $120,000 was undeclared.
Separately, another two men, aged 37 and 48, entered Singapore with cash notes of different currencies that amounted to more than $20,000 without declaration, and are also under investigation.
The four men were nabbed by officers during an enforcement operation jointly held on Nov 16 by the police, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs at Changi Airport, said the police and ICA in a statement on Nov 24.
The enforcement operation is part of a series of ongoing operations conducted at various immigration checkpoints since September.
The operation also found 10 travellers who failed to declare and pay duties or goods and services tax (GST) for cigarettes and tobacco products; liquor in excess of duty-free allowance; or taxable goods exceeding the GST import relief allowance.
The agencies reminded the public that they are required to declare the physical movement of any currency or bearer negotiable instruments – which include bills of exchange, cheques with “or bearer” not crossed out, money orders and postal orders – into or out of Singapore if the total value exceeds $20,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency.
Failure to do so is an offence that carries a fine of up to $50,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both. The items may be seized and, upon the offender’s conviction, may also be confiscated.
Those who are found evading, or attempting to evade, any Customs or excise duty can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded.
To avoid penalties, Singaporeans are encouraged to make an advance declaration and payment for their dutiable or GST goods up to three days before their arrival in Singapore on the Customs@SG web application.
