Singapore Authorities Catch 67 Travellers for Border-Related Offences

During a week-long border operation from September 22 to 28, Singapore authorities checked nearly 13,000 travellers and detected 67 offenders for various border-related offences. Seven travellers carried undeclared cash exceeding $20,000 each, while 60 others evaded taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and commercial items like mooncakes and luxury bags.

Multi-Agency Border Operation Checks Nearly 13,000 Travellers Across Singapore Checkpoints

A joint enforcement operation conducted by the Singapore Police Force, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, and Singapore Customs targeted air, land, and sea borders between Sept 22 and Sept 28. Officers inspected close to 13,000 travellers and 350 vehicles, alongside scanning and searching over 14,000 pieces of check-in luggage and hand-carry bags. The coordinated checks were designed to catch individuals flouting the Cross-Border Cash Reporting Regime and attempting other illegal cross-border activities.

Altogether, 67 travellers were caught for various offences during the week. While the majority of the infractions involved undeclared taxable goods, a notable group of seven travellers attempted to bring large sums of money across the border without filing mandatory declarations.

Singapore Authorities Catch 67 Travellers for Border-Related Offences — Photo: mustsharenews.com

Seven Travellers Flagged for Moving Undeclared Cash Above the Reporting Threshold

Under Singapore law, travellers must report the physical movement of Cash or Bearer Negotiable Instruments if the total value exceeds $20,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency. This requires submitting an electronic declaration within 72 hours before entering or leaving the country through the MyICA app by selecting Submit Cash (CBNI) Declaration, or via the ICA website, as noted by the authorities.

Sept 22: A 46-year-old foreign male attempted to bring $31,000 into Singapore without declaration.
Sept 23: A 40-year-old female foreign traveller was caught with about $51,000, marking the largest single cash amount detected.
Sept 27: A 44-year-old foreign male tried to bring in approximately $23,800.
Sept 28: Four travellers were caught in separate checks carrying about $96,400 collectively, including two 41-year-old men carrying $30,000 and $20,400 respectively, alongside a 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man who carried about $46,000 together.

Out of these seven offenders, three received composition fines totalling $13,000 and two were issued warning letters. According to the agencies involved, the remaining two travellers had their cash seized for further investigation. Failing to accurately report cash movements above the threshold carries penalties of up to a $50,000 fine, a prison sentence of up to three years, or both, alongside potential confiscation of the cash.

Sixty Travellers Fined After Evading Duty and GST on Commercial Goods, Cakes, and Luxury Items

Separately, Singapore Customs flagged 60 travellers for failing to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products, liquor exceeding duty-free concessions, and goods surpassing Goods and Services Tax import relief limits. The total duty and GST evaded across these 60 cases reached $7,810, leading to composition sums amounting to $17,705 issued against the offenders, as detailed by the enforcement agencies.

The seized items included commercial goods as well as personal items. One traveller stopped at Tuas Checkpoint carried multiple packages of mooncakes, two boxes of birthday cakes, and a money bouquet intended for commercial use. Other cases involved a traveller at Changi Airport carrying three undeclared luxury bags for personal use and another individual possessing undeclared jewellery.

Offenders caught fraudulently evading duty or GST face fines of up to 20 times the evaded amount and up to 12 months in prison. Authorities reminded travellers that declarations and payments for goods exceeding relief limits can be handled up to three days prior to arrival using the Customs@SG Web Application, the MyICA app, or physical Customs Declaration Kiosks at air, land, and sea terminals upon arrival.