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ICA confiscates over 4,000 cartons of cigarettes 

SINGAPORE - A Malaysia-registered lorry that was driven by a 31-year-old Malaysian driver was found to be carrying 4,308 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes hidden in between the bags of cement.

The driver was attempting to cross into Singapore from Malaysia through the Tuas Checkpoint.

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Number of contraband cigarettes seized down to 6-year low 

The number of contraband cigarettes seized by the authorities last year declined, hitting a six-year low of 1.9 million packets.

This was largely due to increased enforcement efforts and the crippling of four major syndicates by Customs officers last year.

In 2008, 4.6 million packets of contraband cigarettes were seized.

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Stepped-up enforcement keeps illegal cigarettes seized to 6-year low 

The quantity of illegal cigarettes seized by officers here in 2011 has declined, hitting a record six-year low of 1.9 million packets.

This is largely due to stepped-up enforcement efforts and the bust-ups of four major syndicates by Customs officers in 2011.

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Amount of contraband cigarettes seized falls to record low  

SINGAPORE: The amount of contraband cigarettes seized in Singapore last year hit a new low of 1.9 million packets, marking a decline for the third consecutive year.

The Singapore Customs said the 17.4 per cent fall in illegal cigarettes seized in 2011 (down from 2.3 million packets in 2010) is a result of strong enforcement efforts by the authorities.

Conversely, the amount of duty collected from legal cigarettes has gone up by 4.6 per cent last year to S$917 million, compared to S$877 million in 2010.

Singapore Customs said the supply of legal cigarettes has gone up by 31.6 per cent since 2007.

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Singapore Seen - How students hide their cigarettes in school 

STOMPer BestInTheWorld found photos on facebook showing how students hide their cigarettes in school.

They apparently place their cigarettes in chocolate boxes, so that their teachers will not find out.

Said the STOMPer:

"I found this photo on facebook on a friend's page and I see that this is a new way to store cigarettes in school so no one will know."

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STOMP - Singapore Seen - How students hide their cigarettes in school 

STOMPer BestInTheWorld found photos on facebook showing how students hide their cigarettes in school.

They apparently place their cigarettes in chocolate boxes, so that their teachers will not find out.

Said the STOMPer:

"I found this photo on facebook on a friend's page and I see that this is a new way to store cigarettes in school so no one will know."

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5 RI crewmen arrested ‘smuggling’ 10 cigarette packs 

The Indonesian Regional Representatives Council (DPD) has urged the government to protect five Indonesian tugboat crewmen arrested by Singaporean customs on Thursday for loading cigarettes above the permitted quota.

The DPD said that it had received reports that the five Indonesian crew aboard the BW Endurance tugboat had been arrested and detained at the Singapore Admiralty’s West Prison for allegedly smuggling cigarettes, after finding the men in possession of 10 packs of cigarettes.

Riau Islands DPD representative Aida Zulaikah Nasution said that the families of the crewmen had reported the incident to the council, complaining that the case had been unfairly handled by the Singaporean authorities.

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Singapore keeping tabs on Aussie tobacco regulation 

Singapore is keeping a close eye on a development in Australia in which tobacco companies are banned from displaying their distinctive colours, brand designs and corporate logos on cigarette packs.

Australia is the first country in the world to introduce such plain packaging requirements, which tobacco companies have challenged on grounds of trademark rights infringement, said Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang in Parliament on Monday.

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Play banned over tobacco smoking scenes  

A leading Singaporean newspaper has urged the government to provide more flexibility in its non-smoking policy, which has led to the cancellation of a play, according to a story in the Taiwan News relayed by Tobacco China Online.

'Only You', a new play by Taiwan-based film director, Tsai Ming-liang, which marks Tsai's return to the theater after 27 years, was originally scheduled to be staged in Singapore in February during the Huayi Festival.

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CHUNG: Smokers are tragic victims of tenacious addiction 

AS A medical doctor, I have seen my fair share of victims of smoking-related diseases, and have personally worked with patients on their smoking habits.

A large number of them are distressed by their own habit and are often emotionally torn between feeding their habit and avoiding exposing their family and friends to their second-hand smoke. . . .

It is more prudent for society to focus its efforts on directing smokers towards appropriate help, because such help is proven to work.

There is no need to punish them, as there are more humane options available.

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Singapore Considers Widening Smoking Ban  

Smoking is banned in the majority of indoor locations in Singapore. Among them are shopping malls, cinemas and night spots.

Smoking is also not allowed in places such as bus stops, swimming pools and basement carparks. Designated smoking areas are allowed in certain premises such as eating establishments and entertainment outlets.

The authorities are now considering extending a smoking ban to public spaces such as common corridors and staircase landings in HDB blocks, parks and park connectors, and beaches.

Smoking corners in entertainment outlets, hawker centers and food establishments may also have to go. All these areas have been flagged as problem spots based on public feedback gathered by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

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LETTER: Hotel ambience ruined by smokers  

RECENTLY, I had the opportunity to accompany a gorgeous Shanghainese to dinner at an established hotel in Persiaran Gurney. . . .

Our meal was great. But after dinner and as we were walking to the lift lobby, we had a shock of our lives.

We found the entire lift lobby transformed into a "smoking lounge" with restaurant's diners as well as those attending the wedding function puffing away.

Tobacco smoke filled the lift lobby. Those smokers were just so inconsiderate. . . .

A couple of diners were also avoiding the lift lobby and using the staircase instead.

Shouldn't the management notify all and sundry if the lift lobby is a designated smoking area?

The hotel should put up a signage to warn guests that they may be exposed to unhealthy second-hand smoke while they wait at the lift lobby or when they step out from the lift. . . .

While we applaud the authorities for enforcing the no-smoking rule in certain designated places, hotels should also help protect their non-smoking guests.

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LETTER: Shift in non-smoking strategy needed 

If we want to protect citizens, I propose there should be smoking rooms in all buildings (like those in Changi Airport). Non-smokers are freed from the health risks of second-hand smoke while the policy debates continue.

There should be mandatory air purifiers in public flats and private apartments whose residents are smokers (verified against insurance declarations), to protect children and neighbours.

Wantonly discarded cigarette butts in non-smoking areas should be tested for DNA/fingerprints, to ease the load on enforcement officers trying to capture culprits in the act. . . .

While the long-term objective of achieving a smoke-free Singapore is clear, the imperative now is to protect non-smokers. Then fight to extend the ban.

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Singapore urged to relax smoking ban for performances - Taiwan News Online 

A leading Singaporean newspaper urged the government of the city state Monday to provide more flexibility on its non-smoking policy that has led to cancellation of the performance there of a new play by Taiwan-based film director Tsai Ming-liang. "Only You," which marks Tsai's return to the theater after 27 years, was originally scheduled to be staged in Singapore in February during Singapore's Huayi Festival, a festival of the arts. However, the performance has been cancelled because some scenes in the play feature smoking, which is strictly prohibited in indoor spaces in Singapore, the Lianhe Zaobao reported. The cancellation has caught the attention of local arts circles and the newspaper published an editorial with its opinion of the issue of a balance between the arts and government policy. . . .

It also points out that Taiwan, where indoor smoking is also banned, did not prohibit the play when it was premiered there in late October.

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Customs seize liquor and ciggies worth $60,064 

JOHOR BARU - Customs officers here seized illicit cigarettes and liquor from Singapore with unpaid duty worth RM1.2mil (S$496, 122).

They also detained a 35-year-old man who was carrying the goods in a lorry in the 10.15am incident in Jalan Tebrau, near the Selesa Hotel, on Tuesday.

"We found 6,132 bottles of liquor and 210 boxes of illicit cigarettes hidden at the back of the lorry driven by the suspect," acting Johor Customs director Abdullah Sidik said here yesterday.

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