Volume of Duty-unpaid Cigarettes Seized and Individuals Charged for Related Offences

Parliamentary Question by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong:

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) in each of the last three years, what is the volume of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized; (b) what is the number of individuals charged for offences relating to duty-unpaid cigarettes and what percentage of these are foreigners; and (c) whether any further measures will be taken to deter and reduce the import and consumption of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Parliamentary Reply by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong:

From 2020 to 2022, the quantity of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized averaged at around 2 million packets per year. About 350 persons per year were charged for duty-unpaid cigarette offences. 70% of them were non-residents.

Our enforcement agencies will continue to work together to deter and reduce cigarette offences. This includes sharing of intelligence with one another, and making good use of technology to increase the chances of catching the culprits in action.