Vietnamese cigarette smuggling ring leader jailed, fined

SINGAPORE: A Vietnamese illegal immigrant has been sentenced to 16 months’ jail and fined S$14,000 for coordinating the distribution of contraband cigarettes.

Tran Dinh Hieu, 33, was nabbed with 17 other Vietnamese nationals during a joint operation by Singapore Customs, police and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority in 2012.

If he can’t pay the fine, he’ll have to spend another three weeks in jail.

Tran, an illegal immigrant, was nabbed with 17 other Vietnamese nationals during a joint operation by Singapore Customs, police and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority in 2012.

About 2,100 packets of duty—unpaid cigarettes worth more than S$22,000 were seized.

The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeded S$18,000.

Ten of the Vietnamese, excluding Tran, were sentenced to jail terms of between 12 and 22 weeks and fines of between S$5,100 and S$25,000 each.

— CNA/ck