Four Indonesian men arrested for illegal sea entry into Singapore with duty-unpaid cigarettes

Four Indonesian men were arrested early on 17 May after illegally entering Singapore by sea and being found in possession of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The men, aged between 28 and 50, were detected by the Police Coast Guard (PCG) at about 1.27am while approaching Singapore’s coastline in a small craft.

Arrest near Pulau Tekong

According to a joint statement by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued on 18 May, the group landed outside the fence line of Pulau Tekong, an area not designated for public access.

Officers from the PCG, Gurkha Contingent, Special Operations Command, and the K-9 Unit were deployed. They arrested the men, who were allegedly without valid travel documents, outside the protected zone of Pulau Tekong.

Items seized

Authorities seized 2,700 packets of assorted duty-unpaid cigarettes believed to have been smuggled into Singapore. A fibreglass boat fitted with an outboard motor, thought to be used in the illegal entry, was also confiscated.

The men were charged in court on 19 May under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959 for unlawful entry into Singapore. Conviction carries a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment and a minimum of three strokes of the cane.

Security response

PCG Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Ang Eng Seng, commended the officers for their swift action. He said the operation demonstrated the close coordination between agencies to secure Singapore’s sea borders.

“Anyone who plays a part in such unlawful entry or departure from Singapore will face the full brunt of the law,” he warned.

Context and past incidents

The authorities regularly patrol Singapore’s coastal areas to deter unauthorised entry and smuggling activities. Pulau Tekong, a military training island, is a restricted area.

In 2023, the SPF arrested two Indonesian men in their thirties for entering Singapore illegally by sea. They too were found without valid travel documents.