87 travelers caught at SG airport for undeclared cash above $20k, unpaid taxes

Anyone found guilty of failing to declare cash exceeding $20,000, or its equivalent in foreign currency, can be fined $50,000 and jailed for up to three years. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE via The Straits Times/Asia News Network

SINGAPORE – A total of 87 travelers were caught at the Changi Airport for carrying undeclared cash of more than $20,000 or failing to pay taxes on cigarettes, liquor and other items after a week-long joint enforcement operation in June.

During the multi-agency operation, which took place from June 17 to 23, more than 10,000 travelers were identified for checks and more than 18,000 luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched at the airport’s four terminals, the authorities said in a joint statement.

It added that the operation involved officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Customs, National Parks Board and Health Sciences Authority.

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This was part of the authorities’ efforts to clamp 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 separately found to be bringing undeclared cash of various currencies totaling between $30,000 and $35,000 into Singapore.

On June 22, four male foreign travelers, aged between 37 and 61, were separately caught for carrying cash of various currencies totaling between $24,000 and $109,000 into Singapore without declaration.

The next day, three male foreign travelers, aged between 60 and 71, were separately found carrying undeclared cash of various currencies totaling between $22,000 and $28,000 into Singapore.

Of these 10 travelers caught, two were issued warnings and six were fined $23,000 in all.

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Investigations into the two travelers who carried undeclared money of various currencies exceeding a total of $140,000 into Singapore are ongoing.

“SPF oversees the CBCRR to curb money laundering, terrorist financing and other criminal activities,” said the authorities, adding that enhanced penalties have been in effect since May 13 to strengthen deterrence.

Anyone found 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 – can be fined $50,000, jailed 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 joint operation also caught 77 travelers for Customs offenses of 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.

More than 18,000 luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched at the airport’s four terminals during the joint operation. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE via The Straits Times/Asia News Network

The total amount of duty and GST involved was more than $11,000, and the total penalty imposed was more than $17,000, the statement said.

A luxury watch and handbag were among the undeclared items.

The largest undeclared cigarette case involved 800 sticks of cigarettes, followed by another case with 500 sticks.

These cigarettes were seized and disposed of at the airport as they did not comply with Singapore’s standardized packaging requirements, a measure that has been in place since July 2020.

Those convicted of being involved in fraudulent evasion or attempting to fraudulently evade any customs duty or excise duty can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, or jailed 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 statement said.

“To avoid the hefty penalties and for their own convenience, foreign travelers and local residents are strongly encouraged to make an advance declaration and payment for their dutiable or GST goods up to three days prior to their arrival in Singapore, using the Customs@SG web application.”