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Two foreigners, aged 25 and 38, were arrested on May 5 for allegedly dealing in duty-unpaid beer and liquor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a media release on Wednesday (May 20), Singapore Customs said it uncovered sophisticated concealment methods involving non-alcoholic packaging during its enforcement operation on May 5, adding that more than 9,200 cans and bottles of duty-unpaid beer and liquor were seized.<\/p>\n
During the operation, Singapore Customs officers observed a man moving a pallet of goods out of an industrial unit along Bedok North Avenue 4.<\/p>\n
The officers went on to uncover 13 pallets containing duty-unpaid beer and liquor concealed among cartons and packaging labelled as non-alcoholic drinks.<\/p>\n
A total of 2,460 cans and 6,468 bottles of beer, as well as 320 bottles of liquor, were seized during the operation.<\/p>\n
According to the Singapore Customs, the total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to about $19,791.<\/p>\n
Through its investigations, the law enforcement agency uncovered that the duty-unpaid beer and liquor were smuggled into Singapore via containers using what it described as “elaborate concealment methods designed to evade detection”.<\/p>\n
The Singapore Customs said the bottled beer was wrapped with labels for a non-alcoholic beverage and packed in boxes for non-alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the cans of beer were packed in cartons labelled as non-alcoholic drinks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
These cartons contained both cans of beer and non-alcoholic beverages, with the cans of beer strategically placed in the centre of the carton boxes to avoid detection.<\/p>\n
Prior to local distribution, the non-alcoholic beverage wrappers would be removed and the beers repacked into carton boxes for alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n
Apart from the duo, another three individuals \u2014 a 30-year-old Malaysian woman, a 34-year-old Vietnamese man, and a 41-year-old permanent resident \u2014 are assisting with ongoing Customs investigations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Said a Singapore Customs spokesperson: “The deliberate concealment of duty-unpaid goods among legitimate goods reflects the lengths smugglers will go to evade taxes and detection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Singapore Customs will continue to act firmly against such illicit activities and pursue offenders without hesitation.”<\/p>\n
Under the Customs Act and the GST Act, buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing in duty-unpaid liquor are serious offences.<\/p>\n
Offenders can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and\/or jailed for up to two years.<\/p>\n
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