Singapore Advises Best Practices to Avoid Smugglers
Singapore issued a “best practices” list to ensure companies are not being “exploited for illicit activities,” specifically related to smuggling exports of liquor and tobacco products, Singapore Customs said in a June 17 notice. Singapore issued the notice after noticing “irregularities” certain exports where goods were declared “to be destined for one country but were subsequently found to be meant for shipment to another country,” the notice said. In other cases, “liquor and tobacco products were described as some other items in the bill of lading,” Singapore said, leaving the country to believe the goods were “meant for smuggling into another country.”
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Singapore Customs suggested companies should vet potential customers before doing business, verify their documents and declarations, and “decline dubious business.” Violators who make false or incomplete customs declarations are subject to a maximum one-year prison sentence, the notice said. Violators can also be fined a maximum of $10,000 “or the equivalent of the amount of the customs duty, excise duty or tax payable, whichever is the greater amount,” Singapore Customs said.