Ring‑up of a Cigarette Conspiracy
Raymond Soh Tian Khoon, 53, has just jumped back into jail after a fourth crack at smuggling poorly‑accounted cigarettes. He’ll be spending 42 months behind bars for the latest offence, with a fine of $10.416 million. Since the court’s fine wasn’t paid, he’s looking at an additional 28 months of hard‑time.
The Repeating Offender
- 2006 – Delivered 200 cartons of un‑dutied cigarettes. Sentenced to 10 months.
- 2012 – Smuggled 850 cartons. Arrested and convicted again.
- 2013 – While on bail, he slipped in 90 cartons and 604 packets. Convicted Feb 2014, got 14 months + $352,000 fine.
- 2017 – Along with five others, he dumped 3,948 cartons in an industry block in Bukit Batok. The gang hauled the goods in a truck and split them across two cars for distribution. Those five got anywhere from 8 to 39 months.
What the Customs Are Saying
Yeo Sew Meng, the assistant director‑general of intelligence at Singapore Customs, summed it up: “Soh is a recalcitrant who thought he could outwit the law each trip,” he warned. The Customs Act is strict for repeat offenders and for those who smuggle more than two kilos. You can land a mandatory jail term, get fined up to 40 times the evaded duty, and the vehicles involved may be seized.
Inside the Latest Bust
The 2017 raid unfolded at a supposedly quiet industrial building on Bukit Batok Street 23. Customs officers seized:
- 3,948 cartons of duty‑unpaid cigarettes
- A truck carrying the bulk
- Two cars that were the red‑flag for smuggling
When officers went to London, they confirmed that Soh orchestrated the operation by texting the location to a co‑conspirator, who then pulled three other men to collect & load the contraband into the vehicles for distribution citywide.
The Consequences
- Maximum jail time: 6 years for possession or dealing in duty‑unpaid goods
- Fine: Up to 40 times the evaded duty and GST
- Vehicle seizure: Any uses during the offence can be confiscated
Raymond Soh’s repeatable streak has finally caught up with him. If you’ve ever thought of smuggling cigarettes, just remember: the law ain’t kidding, and the jail stays long.
