Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) arrested eight Indonesian men on Friday after they were caught peddling duty-unpaid cigarettes on 21 December.
ICA said in a news release that the detainees have been slapped with immigration charges after they were nabbed following a three-hour long raid near Yew Tee Industrial Estate. The raid was carried by ICA, the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Customs officers. ICA also said that it takes a "serious view" of illegal attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore.
Singapore police have ordered an investigation into the matter after retrieving around 119 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were also seized from the miscreants. Following the initial investigation, it was also revealed that the potential duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) involved amounted to about $10,460 and $1,005 respectively.
Also read: Malaysia: Cigarettes, beer worth RM870,840 seized at Sarawak customs
The Indonesian can land in jail for of up to six months and receive a minimum of three strokes of the cane Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133).
