http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/singapore.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,173867,00.html http://tobacco.org/news/270275.html The bad news was that the number of fires has gone up since last year. And in some of the categories that saw an increase in the number of fires, smokers had left their fingerprints behind. Or more precisely, their lighted cigarette butts. For example, there were 1,097 rubbish fires during the first six months of this year - 102 more than in the same period last year. A common cause? Lighted cigarette butts from ashtrays, thrown down chutes, said the SCDF. These included fires in rubbish chutes and rubbish bins, and involved discarded items. The SCDF said rubbish fires can be prevented if lighted cigarettes and other burning materials are completely extinguished before The Electric New Paper Singapore Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Courts%2Band%2BCrime/STIStory_263435.html http://tobacco.org/news/269422.html EAGLE-EYED Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) officers spotted two vehicles trying to smuggle large stashes of contraband cigarettes into Singapore in separate incidents on Friday. Both vehicles were stopped at the Woodlands Checkpoint after crossing the Causeway. Straits Times Singapore Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Courts%2Band%2BCrime/STIStory_256099.html http://tobacco.org/news/268501.html THEY are normally noisy, boisterous and jumpy. But officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) inspecting a consignment of live frogs in the boot of a car at Woodlands on Monday night found the amphibians too quiet for their own good. They were also lifeless. This aroused the suspicion of the ICA officers, who decided to take a closer look. Bingo! They found 44 cartons and 59 packets of contraband cigarettes hidden in the spare tyre compartment of the car boot. Straits Times Singapore Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,169744,00.html http://tobacco.org/news/268218.html On many occasions, Mr Hoi, 25, a non-smoker, has been caught in such a situation - in which smokers light up at places where they should not be doing so. And the technical officer will not hesitate to give these inconsiderate smokers a piece of his mind. Mr Hoi said: 'I'll go up to them and tell them, 'Please don't smoke here'.' So far, all the people he had told off had complied with his request. . . . In 2006, NEA booked 1,450 smokers and managements of premises for violating the smoking ban. A further 4,379 were booked last year, while another 1,738 have been booked from January to May this year. Mr Hoi said: 'Those who don't listen may be testing the system because they don't think they will get caught.' The Electric New Paper Singapore Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20080704-74663.html http://tobacco.org/news/268207.html I OFTEN see people smoking in the no-smoking zone in hawker centres, food courts and coffeeshops, and the operators and owners do not take any action. Where are our law enforcement officers when we need them? AsiaOne Singapore Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080703/tap-358051-231650b.html http://tobacco.org/news/268170.html SINGAPORE: An arriving passenger with an awkwardly bulging waistline and unnatural gait caught the attention of customs officers at the Singapore Cruise Centre on Wednesday. A body search conducted on the 61--year--old man uncovered four packets of shag tobacco strapped to his waist. The loose tobacco, which is used for rolling cigarettes, weighed about 850 grammes. According to a statement from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the man claimed he had bought the tobacco for personal consumption in Batam while visiting his family there. Channel NewsAsia Singapore Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Crime/Story/A1Story20080627-73247.html http://tobacco.org/news/267715.html Acting on intelligence gathered, enforcement agencies here smashed a syndicate's ploy to smuggle 26,749 packets of duty-unpaid cigarette worth over $243,415. The duty and GST involved amounted to over $205,350. Ten men (four Singaporeans, three Malaysians and three Bangladesh nationals) were arrested on June 25. Three vehicles were also seized. At 8.45 pm on the night of the sting, a Malaysian-registered lorry was seen entering a rubbish dump at Marsiling Drive. Several men then appeared on the scene. AsiaOne customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg Malaysia Singapore Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Courts%2Band%2BCrime/STIStory_252226.html http://tobacco.org/news/267713.html IN the second haul of contraband cigarettes in two days, enforcement agencies seized 26,749 packets and smashed a syndicate's attempt to smuggle them on Wednesday. Ten men - four Singaporeans, three Malaysians and three Bangladeshis - were arrested in the joint operation carried out by the Singapore Customs, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Police Force. Straits Times Singapore Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.topnews.in/law/six-men-nabbed-biggest-contraband-cigarette-bust-year http://tobacco.org/news/267570.html Six men including a Malaysian were arrested in the biggest contraband cigarette bust this year, news reports said on Wednesday. The men, aged between 38 and 52, were nabbed at a warehouse when customs officers discovered a container with 233,500 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth 2.1 million Singapore dollars (1.5 million US dollars), The Straits Times said. TopNews Singapore Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.todayonline.com/articles/256782.asp http://tobacco.org/news/266685.html While lung cancer is the most feared condition here, more Singaporeans feel "extremely fearful" when they look at health warning images on cigarette packs. Almost 40 per cent here felt that way about graphic labels, much higher than the 26 per cent in Scotland, according to a survey of attitudes and awareness toward smoking in both countries. In this instance, the images were from Australia, so both sets of respondents, less than a quarter of whom in Singapore were current or ex-smokers, were not familiar with them. TODAYonline alicia@mediacorp.com.sg (Alicia Wong-- WITH AGENCIES) Australia Singapore Sat, 31 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080529/tap-350782-231650b.html http://tobacco.org/news/266162.html Most people know that smoking can cause stroke and diseases such as lung and throat cancers, but many are unaware that taking that puff can also cause blindness. This is according to the first cross--cultural survey between Singapore's Alexandra Hospital and Scotland's Ninewell Hospital, which polled over 200 respondents in the two countries. While more than eight in ten are aware of the more common diseases afflicting smokers, only about three in ten regard blindness as a smoking--related condition. Channel NewsAsia Singapore Sat, 31 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest News/Singapore/STIStory_239555.html http://tobacco.org/news/265771.html COLD, sometimes known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a disease which damages the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Dr Ong Kian Chung, a consultant respiratory doctor and president of the COPD Association, said more than 90 per cent of COLD are caused by smoking. . . . Singapore's smoking control campaign this year will also target the young as advocates for a smoke-free lifestyle. This is in line with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) theme of 'Tobacco Free Youth' for World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) which falls on May 31. To mark the global event, a Youth Against Tobacco workshop will be held here on May 28 and 29. About 30 youth leaders from China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and Singapore are attending. Straits Times Singapore Wed, 21 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.straitstimes.com//ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_238773.html http://tobacco.org/news/265558.html I REFER to last Monday's letter, ' Smoking ban flouted in public places' by Mr Justin Kan. National Environment Agency (NEA) officers conduct routine checks of places where smoking is prohibited by law to ensure compliance. During our checks, we also give priority to places where public feedback on violation is often received. NEA continues to take firm enforcement action against any smokers or food-shop operators who violate the law. Since the implementation of the smoking prohibition in coffee shops and hawker centres on July 1, 2006, we have taken enforcement action against more than 3,700 smokers and 400 food-shop operators for infringing the prohibition. Following the feedback, our officers checked the food shops at Keong Saik Road referred to by Mr Kan. Although we did not find anyone violating the smoking prohibition, the management of the food shops in the vicinity were sternly reminded . . . -- S. Satish Appoo Director, Enviromental Health Department National Environment Agency Straits Times Singapore Mon, 19 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.straitstimes.com//ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_238744.html http://tobacco.org/news/265556.html I EMPATHISE with Mr Teng Koon Keong and his young niece who suffers from lung cancer, in the letter, 'Smoking in casinos: Up close and personal' (April 29). The evidence that cigarette smoke causes cancer is clear and undisputed. . . . We need to protect non-smokers from suffering the ill-health effects of second-hand smoke in the workplace. Enlightened smoking patrons may even welcome such a move. Straits Times Singapore Mon, 19 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.todayonline.com/articles/252192.asp http://tobacco.org/news/264702.html For illegally peddling six packets of cigarettes on which duty has not been paid, a 43-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 months in jail. . The sentence, meted out on April 28, is the highest so far, given the quantity of the cigarettes involved, the Singapore Customs said yesterday. . The convict, Tang Wah Hee, is a repeat offender and was therefore subject to the stiff punishment. . . . Members of the public with information on the peddling of contraband cigarettes should contact the Singapore Customs hotline at 1800 233 0000 or email customs_intelligence@ customs.gov.sg. TODAYonline Singapore Tue, 06 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT