Multiple holidaymakers slapped with fines for concealing significant sums of money, outwitting Goods and Services Tax (GST), and illegally dodging taxes on tobacco products.

Multiple holidaymakers slapped with fines for concealing significant sums of money, outwitting Goods and Services Tax (GST), and illegally dodging taxes on tobacco products.

Singapore - Over 170 travellers were allegedly caught at land, sea, and air checkpoints for failing to declare or inaccurately declaring cash, tobacco, and other goods exceeding the legal limits.

Authorities arrested 14 foreign travellers for carrying unreported cash and foreign currency of over S$20,000 at Singapore borders. Four of these individuals were detained on May 21, carrying various currencies worth between S$20,700 and S$380,139. Another traveller, a 55-year-old man, was caught two days later for making an inaccurate declaration of S$399,965 and RM1,621 (S$490), suspecting his earnings were tied to unlicensed moneylending activities.

The findings emerged from a week-long operation conducted by government agencies between May 21 and May 27.Singapore Police Force, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Customs, National Parks Board, and Health Sciences Authority revealed the results in a joint statement on May 31.

Four of the 14 offenders were given warnings, while seven received fines amounting to a total of S$27,000. Further investigations are ongoing for several individuals, and one has been charged with possessing property derived from criminal activities.

Throughout the operation, authorities conducted checks on travellers and vehicles, screening over 19,000 travellers, 1,600 vehicles and over 26,000 pieces of hand-carry luggage.

The failure to report or declare cash exceeding S$20,000 is punishable under Section 60(2) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992. Violators can face a fine of up to S$50,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. Additionally, penalties apply for fraudulent evasion of customs or excise duties, with fines up to 20 times the amount evaded and jail terms of up to two years possible.

Meanwhile, authorities also identified 153 travellers who failed to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products, liquor, and souvenirs exceeding GST import relief allowances. These travellers evaded a combined S$10,754 in taxes, leading to fines amounting to S$35,165 in composition sums.

Singapore takes these offenses seriously and enforces strict penalties for violators. The failure to report or inaccurately declare goods can lead to substantial fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of the undeclared items.

1. Travellers entering Singapore should be mindful of declaring all cash, tobacco, and other goods exceeding the legal limits, as failure to do so could lead to serious penalties under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992.
2. In addition to cash offenses, travellers in Singapore were also caught for evading taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products, liquor, and souvenirs, leading to fines for both underpaying taxes and inaccurate declarations, demonstrating the country's strict stance on lifestyle and travel-related offenses.

Read also: