reported on 27/12/08

26/12/08

The ICA reported 8110 packets of contraband cigarettes

It was reported yesterday that a malaysia registered lorry truck was found with $620,000 worth of potential costoms duty and GST payable and unregistered/undeclared cigarettes.

ICA said the duty-unpaid cigarettes were hidden within a consignment that was declared as mixed hardwood sawn timber.

The 8110 packets of cigarettes were discovered when the malaysian lorry checked past the woodlands costoms complex.

OPINIONS: The truck driver was very selfish to have not declared his cigarettes. All entrepreneurs have declared their goods and paid their taxes etcetera, he was also being very unfair to the others. If a man like him gets past the costoms, it will influence the others to do it. Then, the costoms will get out of control. In that way, he earns more money then the others by 'cheating'.

For example another man also goes past the costoms with cigrattes but pays the taxes, he would have to cut down on his supplies by a lot. He would earn less money than the man who intended to get past the costoms without paying taxes.

(contraband:anything prohibited by law from being imported or exported)