新加坡海關於2020年10月5日至9日進行了為期5天共7次的專項行動，逮捕了8名男子和2名女子，年齡在23歲至69歲之間，並繳獲了超過2600箱逃稅香菸。
用於運送逃稅香菸的車
在其中兩次行動中，新加坡海關官員突擊搜查了位於英皇喬治大道(King George 's Avenue)和Serangoon North Avenue 4號大街(Serangoon North Avenue 4)的兩組屋(HDB)，它們被用來存放和販賣逃稅的香菸。兩名新加坡男子和一名中國男子被捕，639箱和20包逃稅香菸在行動中被查獲。
從英皇喬治大道(King George 's Avenue)和Serangoon North Avenue 4號大街(Serangoon North Avenue 4)查獲的逃稅香菸
在康正路、Eunos工業園區和Realty Park進行的另外三次行動中，新加坡海關人員阻止了企圖取回逃稅香菸的3名嫌犯。這些香菸被藏在金屬烤爐、木架和空氣凈化器等物品中。警方逮捕了兩名華裔男子和一名新加坡女子，並在行動中查獲了1596箱和5942包逃稅香菸。
從康正路、Eunos工業園區查獲的逃稅香菸
在另兩宗在義順環路和裕廊西93街進行的行動中，新加坡海關人員逮捕了四名新加坡人，三男一女，罪名是儲存和運送逃稅香菸。海關人員共檢獲369箱及908包香菸。
藏在空氣凈化器正準備送往Realty的逃稅香菸
對四名男子和一名女子的訴訟仍在進行中。其餘四名男子和一名女子的調查仍在進行中。
海關行動共檢獲2,604紙盒、6,870包逃稅香菸及一輛車。逃稅的稅款及貨物及服務稅分別約為293,700元及23,590元。
根據《海關法》和《商品及服務稅法案》，買賣、運輸、交付、儲存、保管、擁有或處理逃稅貨物是嚴重違法行為。違規者可被處以逃繳稅款和商品及服務稅40倍的罰款，或監禁至多6年，或兩者並施。用於違反這些罪行的車輛也可被沒收。
市民如有走私活動、偷稅漏稅、GST等信息，可致電新加坡海關熱線1800-2330000，電郵至[email protected]或使用Customs@SG手機app (可從蘋果商店或谷歌商店下載)舉報。
關稅局通告原文如下
Singapore Customs arrested eight men and two women, aged between 23 and 69, and seized more than 2,600 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes during seven separate operations across Singapore from 5 to 9 October 2020.
In two of the operations, Singapore Customs officers raided two HDB units at King George’s Avenue and Serangoon North Avenue 4 that were used for storage and peddling of duty-unpaid cigarettes. Two Singaporean men and a Chinese national man were arrested, and 639 cartons and 20 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in the operations.
In three other operations conducted at Kang Ching Road, Eunos Industrial Park and Realty Park, Singapore Customs officers foiled attempts made to retrieve shipments of duty-unpaid cigarettes that were concealed in cover loads such as metal oven, wooden shelves and an air purifier unit. Two Chinese national men and a Singaporean woman were arrested, and 1,596 cartons and 5,942 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in the operations.
In two other operations conducted at Yishun Ring Road and Jurong West St 93, Singapore Customs officers arrested four Singaporeans, three men and a woman, for storing and delivering duty-unpaid cigarettes. A total of 369 cartons and 908 packets of cigarettes were seized.
Court proceedings against four of the men and one of the women are ongoing. Investigations are ongoing for the remaining four men and one woman.
The operations resulted in the seizure of a total of 2,604 cartons and 6,870 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes and a vehicle. The duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $293,700 and $23,590 respectively.
Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are also liable to be forfeited.
Members of public with information on smuggling activities or evasion of Customs duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-2330000, email [email protected] or use Customs@SG mobile app (which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play) to report these illegal activities.
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Singapore Customs
16 October 2020
