Man, 49, caught attempting to move cash cheques totalling S$91,789 out of S'pore without declaration

A 49-year-old male foreign traveller was detected attempting to move cash cheques amounting to S$91,789 out of Singapore without declaration.

Another traveller was also detected moving cash in multiple foreign currencies amounting to S$24,965 into Singapore without declaration.

They were caught during a multi-agency enforcement operation involving Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs (Customs) between Jan. 13 and 19, 2026 across the land, air, and sea checkpoints.

The operation was conducted to detect and enforce against non-compliance of Singapore’s Cross-Border Cash Reporting Regime (CBCRR) and other illegal cross-border activities, said SPF, ICA and Customs in a joint press release.

The CBCRR is part of the SPF’s efforts to curb money laundering, terrorist financing and other criminal activities.

More than 10,000 travellers and 260 vehicles were identified for checks, and over 14,000 pieces of luggage and hand carry bags were scanned or searched, the agencies said.

Moving cash without declaring

It is a statutory requirement to report the cross-border physical movement of cash or bearer negotiable instruments (CBNIs) if the total value exceeds S$20,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currency), the agencies said.

Travellers must submit a declaration electronically within 72 hours before entering or leaving Singapore through the MyICA mobile app or via ICA’s website.

During the operations, ICA detected two travellers who failed to declare or accurately declare as such.

On Jan. 13, 2026, a 46-year-old female foreign traveller was detected moving cash in multiple foreign currencies amounting to S$24,965 into Singapore without declaration.

She was issued with a notice of warning.

On Jan. 14, a 49-year-old male foreign traveller was detected attempting to move cash cheques amounting to S$91,789 out of Singapore without declaration.

He was issued a composition sum of S$9,000.

Those who fail to report or to accurately report the movement of CBNIs exceeding S$20,000 are liable to be fined up to S$50,000 or imprisoned for a term of up to three years, or both.

A confiscation order may also be issued for any part of the cash, in relation to which the offence was committed.

70 travellers caught for customs offences

70 travellers were caught for failing to declare and pay taxes on cigarettes and/or tobacco products, liquors exceeding their duty-free concession, and goods exceeding Goods and Services Tax (GST) import relief.

The total duty and GST evaded amounted to S$3,398, and S$21,990 in composition sums were imposed.

The cases include a traveller carrying six sets of undeclared roller blinds, another with undeclared assorted luxury goods, and a third with undeclared smartwatches.

All offences were compounded, the agencies said.

Those involved in the fraudulent evasion of customs or excise duties may face a fine of up to 20 times the amount evaded, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

Top photos from ICA/Facebook