7 travellers caught carrying over S$20,000 cash into S'pore without declaring, another had money bouquet

Close to 13,000 travellers and 350 vehicles were checked, and over 14,000 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched during a multi-agency enforcement operation across Singapore’s land, air, and sea checkpoints between Sep. 22 and 28, 2026.

The operation was conducted by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs (Customs) as part of ongoing efforts to detect and enforce against non-compliance with Singapore’s cross-border cash reporting and other illegal cross-border activities.

During the week-long operation, enhanced checks were conducted on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints.

Carrying cash exceeding S$20,000

Seven travellers were detected carrying cash exceeding S$20,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies into Singapore without making the required declarations:

On Sep. 22, a 46-year-old male foreign traveller attempted to bring S$31,000 into Singapore without declaration.

On Sep. 23, a 40-year-old female foreign traveller attempted to bring approximately S$51,000 into Singapore without declaration.

On Sep. 27, a 44-year-old male foreign traveller attempted to bring approximately S$23,800 into Singapore without declaration.

On Sep. 28, four travellers attempted to bring in cash totalling approximately S$96,400 into Singapore.

Two 41-year-old male foreign travellers carrying S$30,000 and S$20,400 respectively, and a 51-year-old female traveller and a 52-year-old male foreign traveller carrying approximately S$46,000 collectively.

Warnings and fines issued

Of these seven travellers, two were issued notices of warning, and three were issued composition fines amounting to S$13,000 in total.

The remaining two travellers had their cash seized for further investigations.

Members of the public are reminded that it is a statutory requirement to report the cross-border physical movement of cash or bearer negotiable instruments if the total value exceeds S$20,000.

The money in foreign currency must also be declared.

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

Failure to report or to accurately report the movement of cash or bearer negotiable instruments exceeding S$20,000 is an offence punishable under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992.

Offenders 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.

Other travellers caught

A total of 60 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 their Goods and Services Tax (GST) import relief.

The total duty and GST evaded amounted to S$7,810 and S$17,705 in composition sums were imposed.

The cases included a traveller carrying multiple packages of mooncakes, two boxes of birthday cakes, and a money bouquet intended for commercial purposes.

The traveller was stopped at Tuas Checkpoint.

Another traveller was stopped at Changi Airport with undeclared luxury bags for personal use.

A third traveller had undeclared jewellery for personal use.

All offences were compounded.

Under the Customs Act, any person found guilty of fraudulent evasion of duty or GST shall be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded.

In addition to the fine, offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for up to 12 months.

Advisory

Travellers are encouraged to declare and make payment for such goods up to three days before arrival using the Customs@SG Web Application, which is also available on the MyICA mobile app.

Travellers may also use the Customs Declaration Kiosks located at the air, land and sea checkpoints and terminals, to declare and make payment for their goods on arrival.

All cigarettes and tobacco products must comply with the standardised packaging requirements.

Non-compliant products will be disposed of at the checkpoints.