7 travellers caught trying to bring over $200k in undeclared cash into Singapore

A total of 67 travellers were caught for border-related offences following a multi-agency enforcement operation, including seven who attempted to bring more than $200,000 in undeclared cash into Singapore. 

The operation was conducted across the land, air, and sea checkpoints by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs between Sept 22 and 28. 

In a joint news release on Monday (Oct 5), the agencies said officers checked close to 13,000 travellers and 350 vehicles, while scanning and searching over 14,000 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags.   

Seven travellers were detected trying to carry cash exceeding $20,000 — or its equivalent in foreign currency — into Singapore without making the mandatory declarations.   

The cases included:

• Sept 22: A 46-year-old foreign male who attempted to bring in around $31,000 without declaration. 
• Sept 23: A 20-year-old foreign woman who attempted to bring in around $51,000 without declaration. 
• Sept 27: A 44-year-old foreign male who attempted to bring in around $23,000 without declaration. 
• Sept 28: Four travellers, comprising two 41-year-old foreign men, a 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old foreign man, attempted to bring in around $96,400 collectively. The two 41-year-old men carried $30,000 and $20,400 respectively, while the other two travellers carried about $46,000 combined.

Of the seven offenders, two were issued warnings while three were issued with composition fines totaling $13,000.

The cash was seized from the remaining two travellers for further investigation.   

Under the Cross-Border Cash Reporting Regime, travellers carrying cash or bearer negotiable instruments above $20,000 must submit an electronic declaration within 72 hours before entering or leaving Singapore via the MyICA mobile application or ICA website.  

Separately, Singapore Customs also detected 60 travellers for failing to declare and pay required taxes on cigarettes and/or tobacco products, liquor and commercial goods. 

The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to $7,810, resulting in $17,705 of composition sums imposed. 

The cases included a traveller carrying multiple packages of mooncakes, two boxes of birthday cakes and a money bouquet which were intended for commercial purposes, while another with undeclared luxury bags for personal use; and a third with undeclared jewellery for personal use. 

All the offences were compounded. 

Under the Customs Act, any person found guilty of fraudulent evasion of duty or GST faces may face fines of up to 20 times the evaded amount, up to 12 months' imprisonment, or both. 

The agencies also reminded travellers that cigarettes and non-tobacco products must comply with standardised packaging requirements and that non-compliant products will be disposed of at checkpoints. 

Travellers are encouraged to declare and pay duties or GST up to three days before arrival using the Customs@SG web application, via the MyICA app, or at physical Customs Declaration Kiosks located at checkpoints upon arrival.   

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