CTTO/SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE via The Straits Times/Asia News Network
Singapore – A week-long joint enforcement operation at Changi Airport resulted in the apprehension of 87 travelers for carrying undeclared cash exceeding $20,000 or failing to pay taxes on cigarettes, liquor, and other items. The multi-agency operation took place from June 17 to 23 and involved over 10,000 travelers and the scanning or searching of more than 18,000 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags across the airport’s four terminals.
The authorities, including the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Customs, National Parks Board, and Health Sciences Authority, aimed to crack down on non-compliance with Singapore’s Cross-Border Cash Reporting Regime (CBCRR) and other illegal cross-border activities.
On June 20, two male Singaporeans and a female foreign traveler, aged between 31 and 50, were found with undeclared cash ranging from $30,000 to $35,000. On June 22, four male foreign travelers, aged between 37 and 61, were caught with undeclared cash totaling between $24,000 and $109,000. The next day, three male foreign travelers, aged between 60 and 71, were found carrying undeclared cash between $22,000 and $28,000.
Out of the 10 travelers caught with undeclared cash, two received warnings and six were fined a total of $23,000. Investigations are ongoing for two travelers who brought in undeclared cash exceeding $140,000.
“SPF oversees the CBCRR to curb money laundering, terrorist financing, and other criminal activities,” the authorities stated, highlighting that enhanced penalties have been in effect since May 13 to strengthen deterrence. Those guilty of failing to report or accurately report the movement of Cash or Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNI) exceeding $20,000—or its equivalent in foreign currency—face fines up to $50,000, imprisonment up to three years, or both. The undeclared cash may also be confiscated.
Travelers are reminded to submit an electronic declaration up to 72 hours before entering or leaving Singapore through the MyICA mobile app or the ICA website.
The operation also caught 77 travelers for Customs offenses, including failing to declare and pay taxes on dutiable cigarettes or tobacco products, liquors exceeding their duty-free allowance, as well as new articles, souvenirs, gifts, and food items exceeding their goods and services tax (GST) import relief allowance. The total duty and GST involved amounted to over $11,000, with penalties exceeding $17,000.
Among the undeclared items were a luxury watch and handbag. The largest undeclared cigarette case involved 800 sticks, followed by another case with 500 sticks. These cigarettes were seized and disposed of at the airport for non-compliance with Singapore’s standardized packaging requirements, a regulation in place since July 2020.
Those convicted of fraudulent evasion or attempting to fraudulently evade customs or excise duty can face fines up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, or imprisonment for up to two years.
“It is the responsibility of arriving travelers to make accurate and complete declarations of the dutiable and taxable items in their possession,” the authorities emphasized in their statement.