Singapore man under probe for failing to declare over S$30,000 worth of pokémon cards at Changi Airport

SINGAPORE — A 25-year-old Singaporean man is under investigation after allegedly failing to declare more than S$30,000 worth of Pokémon trading cards upon arrival at Changi Airport.

Pokémon cards discovered during baggage screening

In a Facebook post on 14 October 2025 (Tuesday), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said its officers detected the undeclared goods while screening baggage at Terminal 1 on 10 October (Friday).
The man, who had just arrived in Singapore, was directed to the baggage screening area but claimed he had “nothing to declare.” However, ICA officers later uncovered a large assortment of Pokémon trading cards valued at over S$30,000 inside his luggage.
The case has since been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.

Surge in Pokémon card investment value

Pokémon trading cards have recently become high-value collector’s items and alternative investments.
According to The Straits Times, citing analytics firm Card Ladder, rare Pokémon cards have yielded an average return of 3,821% since 2004, far outpacing the S&P 500 Index’s 483% over the same period.
Collectors across Asia, including Singapore, have been increasingly importing cards for both resale and investment, prompting stricter customs checks on high-value collectibles.

ICA reminds travellers to declare all taxable goods

The ICA reiterated that all goods purchased overseas are subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST) at 9%, and travellers must declare them if their total value exceeds duty-free or GST relief limits.
Travellers returning after 48 hours or more abroad enjoy a GST relief of up to S$500, while those away for less than 48 hours are only entitled to S$100.
“Travellers who are unsure should err on the side of caution and declare their goods,” ICA said, warning that failure to do so may result in fines or prosecution.