新加坡海关加大逃税惩罚力度，最高罚款增加到10000新币

However, these conditions are too restrictive for situations when officers of customs conduct inland operations. For instance, officers of customs may receive tip-offs of persons suspected to be in possession of and illegally selling duty unpaid cigarettes in a particular part of Singapore.

These suspects are not arriving in Singapore, so they do not meet Condition 1 to invoke search; and they are not suspected to be in possession of a bribe, so they do not meet Condition 2. As for Condition 3, while an officer of customs can arrest an individual to invoke the power of search, an arrest would be a high signature move which can have a significant impact on the person involved.

In some cases, arresting the individual may not be necessary if the officer wants to first verify whether an offence has been committed. Hence, it is more effective to amend the law to give officers of customs the legal powers to conduct searches before assessing whether an arrest should be made. All in all, this amendment will allow Singapore Customs to conduct their inland enforcement operations more effectively.

Fourth, we will grant Singapore Customs the legal power to seize computers or associated devices, mobile communication devices and cash that are reasonably believed to be connected to offences under the Customs Act. In the course of enforcement operations and investigations, it may be necessary for officers of customs to seize such devices and cash proceeds as these may be used as evidence to prosecute the offender under the Customs Act.

Sir, let me now move on to the second set of amendments, which seeks to introduce two new offence provisions and enhance the penalties for specified offences.

First, we will introduce a new offence provision to penalise individuals who allow their premises or vehicles to be used to commit an offence under the Customs Act. This will more effectively deter individuals from committing an offence or taking actions that assist others in the commission of an offence.

For example, there have been cases where individuals repeatedly allowed their premises or vehicles to be used by criminal syndicates to store or transport duty unpaid goods. These individuals then claim innocence by saying that they did not know their actions had helped to facilitate the commission of offences. With this amendment, Singapore Customs will be able to take action against such individuals, unless they are able to show that they had exercised due care in respect of the actions in question.

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