Tobacco.org

Three times unlucky 

THREE separate attempts to smuggle contraband items through Woodlands checkpoint within a span of 24 hours went awry, as more than 2,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes with the potential customs duty of $14,000 and Goods and Services Tax (GST) of $1,270 were flushed out by alert Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers.

The three petty smugglers reused old methods of concealing the contraband items, in the vain belief that the officers were only looking out for new smuggling methods.

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Cigarette smuggling attempt foiled 

Officers from the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority uncovered an attempt to smuggle in 2,150 cartons of cigarettes, which would have drawn duties totalling some $165,000.

The cigarettes were found hidden within the undercarriage of a Malaysian lorry that pulled up at the Woodlands Checkpoint in the early hours of Monday, carrying a consignment of concrete paving slabs.

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ICA foils cigarette smuggling attempt 

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday foiled two separate cigarette smuggling attempts. Duties and taxes on the 1,900 cartons of cigarettes amounted to some $144,000.

In the first case, two Malaysians were caught at the Tuas Checkpoint for trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes hidden in a modified compartment within the floorboard of a consignment of hydrated lime.

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ICA foils 2 cigarette smuggling attempts on same day 

SINGAPORE: The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday foiled two separate cigarette smuggling attempts.

Duties and taxes on the 1,900 cartons of cigarettes amounted to some S$144,000.

In the first case, two Malaysians were caught at the Tuas Checkpoint for trying to smuggle contraband cigarettes hidden in a modified compartment within the floorboard of a consignment of hydrated lime.

Preliminary investigations showed that the Indian driver was promised RM2,000 by the accompanying attendant for the successful delivery of the duty-unpaid cigarettes. . . .

The other case involved five Indonesian seamen who were intercepted at Jurong Wharf for hiding contraband cigarettes under the floorboard of the vessel.

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Singapore Detains Malaysian For Cigarette Smuggling Attempt 

he Singapore border authority foiled a cigarette smuggling attempt involving a Malaysian-registered prime mover at the Tuas Checkpoint last Friday.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Tuesday 8,349 cartons of cigarettes with unpaid duty were recovered from the 40-foot truck.

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LETTER: 'Smoking is a dirty, stupid habit' 

I refer to "Smoke and mirrors?" (Jan 27). We do not only learn from advertisements and the media that smoking is unhealthy.

Research has proven conclusively that there is a very strong relationship between certain cancers and cigarette smoke. Smokers are not the only ones who suffer a higher rate of these cancers, passive smokers also show greater susceptibility. . . .

As for whether smoking is morally wrong, this question should be posed to a smoker.

I have often wondered if my mother would still be alive and enjoy the grandchildren she so longed for had she not been born to smoker parents and married a smoker.

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Singapore Sees 40% Fall In Supply Of Illegal Cigarettes 

Fall in supply of illegal cigarettes by almost 40%.

Singapore Customs’ (SC) annual enforcement results for 2009 have seen steady improvement in the contraband cigarette situation.

This is the result of Customs’ stepped-up enforcement action against smuggling, peddling and buying of duty-unpaid cigarettes over the past few years. SC’s public education programmes and close collaborations with its law enforcement partners have also further curtailed cigarette smuggling activities, as well as other Customs offences such as evasion of duties on motor vehicles and liquors.

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Number of illegal cigarettes seized down 37% last year  

The number of duty unpaid cigarettes seized last year was 37 per cent lower compared to the figures in 2008. According to the Singapore Customs, this was the largest drop in five years.

2.9 million packets of duty unpaid cigarettes were confiscated by the Singapore Customs last year, down from 4.6 million in 2008.

Similarly, the number of people caught peddling or buying illegal cigarettes was about 2.5 per cent lower in 2009 than the year before.

Singapore Customs said this could be due to the SDPC or "Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarette" printed on every single legal cigarette.

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360,000 people in Singapore still puffing away 

Singapore may have one of the lowest smoking rates in the world but some 360,000 people here are still puffing away.

Due to concerted efforts of the National Smoking Control Programme since the 1970s, smoking prevalence has dropped from above 25 per cent to below 14 per cent today.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan revealed the figures in his reply to a question from MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Lam Pin Min.

The smokers come from all age groups, from 18 to 69, peaking at 17 per cent for those aged 18 to 29 years.

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Coffeeshop merchants concerned about NEA's plans to phase out smoking corners  

Smoking bans implemented in various areas islandwide have proven to be effective.

Building on this, the authorities intend to phase out smoking corners in outdoor refreshment areas completely.

Public areas like building entrances, playgrounds, and lift lobbies were converted to non-smoking areas early this year and the National Environment Agency has seen a greater compliance to the ban.

The number of warnings and tickets issued dropped from about 4,599 in 2008 to 4,186 in 2009.

Soon, non-airconditioned food centres could also go totally smoke-free.

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13 people warned or fined over e-cigarettes in Singapore  

The Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) evicted 13 people for bringing in and selling the much-hyped e-cigarette, local media reported on Wednesday.

Among the 13 individuals investigated are four local suppliers who set up websites to hawk the product. The other nine ordered the device online from overseas suppliers, local newspaper The Straits Times reported. . . .

The import and sale of e-cigarettes is illegal here because under anti-smoking laws, anything that resembles a tobacco product cannot be imported, sold, or offered for sale.

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13 warned, fined over e-cigs 

THERE is no smoke and no fire but an e-cigarette is still a cigarette, says the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

So far this year, it has smoked out 13 people for bringing in and selling the much-hyped e-cigarette, touted as a 'healthy' way to beat rising cigarette prices and a widening ban on smoking here.

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13 warned or fined over e-cigarettes ($$) 

THERE is no smoke and no fire but an e-cigarette is still a cigarette, says the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

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• 13 people warned or fined over e-cigarettes in Singapore  

The Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) evicted 13 people for bringing in and selling the much-hyped e-cigarette, local media reported on Wednesday.

Among the 13 individuals investigated are four local suppliers who set up websites to hawk the product. The other nine ordered the device online from overseas suppliers, local newspaper The Straits Times reported.

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• Airports not for tobacco ban 

CHANGI Airport has put its weight behind a global airports group opposing a World Health Organisation (WHO) proposal to ban the sale of duty-free tobacco products on airport premises.

The Airports Council International (ACI), which groups 1,679 airports worldwide, including Changi, maintains that this move will hurt airport earnings, as well as penalise the travelling public.

The issue surfaced at the group's annual meeting recently, in response to suggestions made by the WHO that such a ban would stem the illegal trade in tobacco products.

Member airports agree that they will not stand for such a ban and will work with their respective governments to protect the interests of passengers and the rights of airports and retailers.

This was one of several resolutions approved at the end of the ACI's two-day gathering in Kuala Lumpur last week.

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