According to a press conference from Singapore Customs on January 4, a 32-year-old Chinese citizen was arrested on December 28, 2023. He was found with 1,356 boxes and 3,190 packs of untaxed cigarettes in the cargo compartment of a truck in Geylang district. The man's total tax and goods and services tax (GST) payments amounted to approximately S$179,292.
The suspect was arrested by Singapore Customs during an operation at a parking lot along Geylang East Road. Police investigation revealed that the suspect was hired by an unknown person on a social messaging platform, who asked him to collect and deliver untaxed cigarettes. The man worked as a delivery driver for a food company and used the company's vehicle before being arrested.
Currently, court proceedings against the suspects are ongoing. Purchasing, selling, transporting, delivering, storing, possessing or dealing in goods for which duty has not been paid is considered an offense under the provisions of the Customs Act and the GST Act. Vehicles used in such crimes may be confiscated. Further reports on any of the specific situations mentioned above will be updated as appropriate.
