SINGAPORE Customs, continuing its tough enforcement against cigarette smuggling, caught 68 buyers and eight sellers in a two-day sting operations, and seized over 2,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The raids were carried out at the Central, Western and Eastern parts of Singapore on Feb 18 and 19, including areas in Tampines, Bedok, Geylang, Changi, Jurong, Boon Lay, and Ang Mo Kio.

Seven of the sellers caught at various locations, such as interchanges, void decks and coffee shops, were Singaporeans. They have been charged in Court. The 68 buyers were fined up to $500 per packet on the spot, said a statement from the Singapore Customs on Friday.

The total duty and GST for the cigarettes amounted to $17,722.

Said Assistant Director-General of Customs (Investigations & Intelligence), Mr Lee Boon Chong on the two-day operations: 'We will continue to mount such island-wide operations as part of our enforcement effort against cigarette smuggling. Our enforcement efforts will be more effective if buyers say no to duty-unpaid cigarettes.'

Singapore Customs will continue to conduct such island-wide operations to flush out duty unpaid cigarette sellers and those who buy them. It also works closely with other enforcement agencies such as the Singapore Police Force and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to conduct regular sweeps and operations at hotspot areas.

It warns that buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty unpaid cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs and GST Acts, carrying stiff penalties.

Convicted offenders can be jailed or fined or both. The vehicles used in the commission of the offence are also liable to forfeiture.

The public are also urged not to buy duty-unpaid cigarettes. Buyers face a minimum composition fine of up to $500 for each packet of cigarettes or prosecution in Court.

Those with information on smuggling activities or evasion of Customs duty or GST can contact the Singapore Customs Intelligence Hotline at 1800-2330000 or e-mail to customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg.

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