On the night of October 8, 12 media members joined Singapore Customs on an enforcement operation targeting the illegal distribution of duty-unpaid liquor. This was the first time the media was invited to witness such an operation. They arrived at a Housing Board block in Jurong West, where customs officers inspected a truck filled with contraband. Inside, they discovered 129 bottles of baijiu, a Chinese liquor with 56% alcohol, hidden in the back and under the front seat.
This seizure was part of a broader operation across multiple locations, resulting in the confiscation of 257 bottles of duty-unpaid liquor, amounting to 668.5 liters. The estimated amount of duty and GST evaded was approximately S$35,932. Two Chinese nationals and a Malaysian woman, aged 42 to 63, were arrested for delivering the illegal goods, while a 45-year-old Singaporean man was arrested for storing contraband liquor at his residence.
During the operation, one of the Chinese nationals, a work permit holder, admitted to delivering contraband liquor for a year to earn extra cash for his family back in China. He revealed he made S$30 to S$100 per delivery, working two or three jobs a month.
In another operation, a Chinese national and a Malaysian woman were arrested, and authorities found a home brewery setup at the woman’s residence in Woodlands, leading to the seizure of 105 bottles and two distillery machines. A Singaporean man was also arrested in Loyang, where customs officers seized 19 bottles of baijiu.
Eric Chan, Deputy Head of the Suppression and Community Engagement Branch, stated that enforcement efforts aim to disrupt smuggling networks and illicit sellers. Singapore Customs continues to monitor platforms like WeChat and Telegram to prevent the trade of duty-unpaid goods. Offenders face severe penalties under the Customs and GST Acts, including hefty fines and imprisonment.
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