All Mohd Zahari Bin Matnin wanted to do while he was at Causeway Point Shopping Centre was to take a quick puff.
Little did the 39-year-old Singaporean know that this would lead to his arrest - and a $2,200 fine.
Earlier this month, on July 24, Mohd Zahari was at the shopping centre when Singapore Customs officers conducting enforcement rounds saw him taking out a cigarette stick.
Suspecting the packet to be duty-unpaid, they approached him. On seeing the officer's warrant card, Mohd Zahari turned and ran off, but was apprehended after a short chase. During the arrest, he continuously shouted vulgarities -"F**k you" - at the officer.
He was sentenced by the court to fines totalling $2,200 or in default 17 days imprisonment for three counts of offences under the Customs Act, including verbally abusing a Singapore Customs officer and for possession of duty-unpaid cigarettes.
He was not the only one to be arrested, 39 buyers and eight illegal peddlers were caught when Singapore Customs conducted island-wide enforcement raids at Geylang, Tampines, Bedok, Marsiling, Aljunied, Boon Lay, Jurong East and Woodlands from July 23 -24, 2008, said a media release.
The statement also said that 2,707 packets of duty unpaid cigarettes were seized from various hiding places such as in the back alley rubbish chutes, unused letter boxes, electric risers, hanging from tree branches, in the drains, etc.
Each packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes will now cost offenders $500 - the new penalty imposed on buyers of illegal cigarettes.
Mr Lee Boon Chong, Assistant Director-General of Customs (Intelligence & Investigation) said, "Singapore Customs will continue to mount more enforcement raids island-wide. We are also deploying more uniformed enforcement manpower to step up checks. With a heavier penalty in place, we want to remove the demand for illegal cigarettes to clamp down illegal peddling and buying activities. We urge the public to support our cause and stay away from illegal cigarettes."
Singapore Customs warns that buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with contraband cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs and GST Acts.
Members of the public who have information on cigarette smuggling or peddling activities can call the Singapore Customs hotline at 1800-2330000 or email customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg.
