87 people arrested at SG airport for undeclared cash over $20,000 and unpaid taxes

SINGAPORE – A total of 87 travelers were arrested at Changi Airport for carrying undeclared cash worth more than $20,000 or failing to pay taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and other items, after a week-long joint control operation in June.

During the multi-agency operation, which ran from June 17 to 23, more than 10,000 travelers were identified for checks and more than 18,000 bags and handbags were scanned or searched across the four airport terminals, authorities said in a joint statement. statement.

He added that the operation involved officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Customs, the Board of national parks and the Health Sciences Authority.

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This is part of the authorities’ efforts to combat non-compliance with Singapore’s Cross-Border Cash Reporting Regime (CBCRR) and other illegal cross-border activities.

On June 20, two Singaporeans and a foreign female traveler, aged 31 to 50, were separately found bringing undeclared cash in various currencies into Singapore, totaling between $30,000 and $35,000.

On June 22, four male foreign travelers, aged 37 to 61, were separately arrested for transporting cash of various currencies into Singapore without declaration totaling between $24,000 and $109,000.

The next day, three male foreign travelers, aged between 60 and 71, were separately found carrying undeclared cash in various currencies totaling between $22,000 and $28,000 into Singapore.

Of those 10 travelers arrested, two received warnings and six were fined a total of $23,000.

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Investigations into the two travelers who carried undeclared cash in various currencies into Singapore exceeding a total of $140,000 are ongoing.

“The SPF supervises the CBCRR to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other criminal activities,” authorities said, adding that enhanced sanctions had been in force since May 13 to strengthen deterrence.

Any person found guilty of failing to report or failing to accurately report movements of cash or bearer negotiable instruments (CBNI) worth more than $20,000 – or their foreign currency equivalent – may be fined $50,000, imprisoned for up to three years, or both.

Undeclared cash may also be confiscated.

Travelers are reminded to submit an electronic declaration up to 72 hours before entering or leaving Singapore via the MyICA mobile app or the ICA website.

The joint operation also arrested 77 travelers for customs violations involving failure to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes or taxable tobacco products, alcoholic beverages exceeding their customs duty exemption, as well as new items, souvenirs , gifts and food products in excess of their goods and services tax. (GST) import relief allowance.

The total amount of duty and GST involved was more than $11,000, and the total penalty imposed was more than $17,000, the release said.

A luxury watch and a handbag were among the undeclared items.

The largest undeclared case of cigarettes was for 800 sticks of cigarettes, followed by another case of 500 sticks.

These cigarettes were seized and disposed of at the airport because they did not comply with Singapore’s standardized packaging requirements, a measure in force since July 2020.

Persons found guilty of participating in tax evasion or attempting to fraudulently evade customs or excise duties may be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty. and GST evaded, or imprisonment of up to two years.

“It is the responsibility of travelers upon arrival to make accurate and complete declarations of dutiable and chargeable items in their possession,” the statement said.

“To avoid heavy penalties and for their own convenience, foreign travelers and local residents are strongly encouraged to pre-declare and pay for their taxable goods or GST up to three days before their arrival in Singapore, using the website Web Customs@SG. application.”