SINGAPORE \u2013 Six Bangladeshi men, aged 25 to 42, were arrested after 3,500 cartons of contraband cigarettes and about 17g of drugs were seized in a Customs enforcement operation in Choa Chu Kang on April 30.<\/p>\n
Customs officers carried out checks that day, based on information they had received, on a public utilities room in Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1, where they found 2,700 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in and among packages labelled as \u201cdog food\u201d, Singapore Customs said in a statement on May 13.<\/p>\n
The officers also found drug paraphernalia and sachets believed to contain 17g of controlled drugs, including methamphetamine \u2013 also known as Ice \u2013 and cannabis.<\/p>\n
Five men found in the public utilities room were arrested.<\/p>\n
After further checks and questioning, the officers found a key to a vehicle on one of the men, which led them to a locally registered van parked nearby that held another 800 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.<\/p>\n
A sixth man was arrested near the location in connection with the alleged contraband cigarette activities. The van was also seized.<\/p>\n
A total of $453,965 in duties and goods and services tax (GST) were evaded for the cigarettes, said Singapore Customs.<\/p>\n A van containing 800 cartons of contraband cigarettes was seized near a public utilities room in Choa Chu Kang where another 2,700 cigarette cartons and drugs, including Ice and cannabis, were uncovered.<\/p>\n PHOTO: SINGAPORE CUSTOMS<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Investigations are ongoing for all six men.<\/p>\n The suspected drug-related offences were referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.<\/p>\n Those found guilty of buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing in duty-unpaid cigarettes can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and tax evaded, and\/or jailed for up to six years.<\/p>\n Vehicles used in committing such offences are also liable to be forfeited.<\/p>\n Anyone aware of smuggling activities, or duty or GST evasion can report to Singapore Customs at go.gov.sg\/reportcustomsoffence<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>