The Singapore Customs caught 152 offenders for duty-unpaid cigarettes in a three-day operation carried out in commercial areas, industrial estates, housing estates and a foreign workers' dormitory on Sept. 10, 11 and 13.

Fined

Offenders were issued with composition sums that ranged from S$500 to S$1,200, with about 170 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized.

The composition sum for a first-time offender who has up to one packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes in his possession is S$500.

Heavier penalties will apply if he is found with more than one packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes and/ or if he is a repeat offender.

How operation is carried out

As previously documented, enforcement action taken by Singapore Customs against smokers in Singapore smoking duty unpaid cigarettes is straightforward:

Once a smoker is seen holding a cigarette, the enforcement officers will step forward and identify themselves and demand to inspect the cigarette in an on-the-spot spot check.

If the cigarette in possession is found to not have the Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarette (SDPC) mark, the offender will be brought to a make-shift reporting centre.

The SPDC stamp is used to mark out duty paid cigarettes.

The offender must hand over his duty unpaid cigarettes after he is brought to the reporting centre, and report under what circumstances were the duty unpaid cigarettes brought into Singapore.

Illegal to possess duty-unpaid cigarettes

Since March 1, 2013, cigarettes sold in Singapore without a new Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarette (SDPC) mark have been deemed duty-unpaid, illegal and liable for prosecution.

The Singapore Customs said previously the new mark is meant to increase the effectiveness of anti-contraband cigarette operations conducted across the island to curb the selling, buying and possession of contraband.

This is to help the public differentiate duty paid and unpaid cigarettes.

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