Home brewery found in Woodlands after M'sian woman arrested for delivering illegal alcohol
A Malaysian woman, 63, was arrested for delivering duty-unpaid liquor near the rubbish chute of a Housing Board block in Jurong West, said Singapore Customs in a media release on Oct 11.
Officers searched her residence in Woodlands and discovered more illegal alcohol manufactured in a home brewery.
They seized 105 bottles of liquor, 73 of which were 5l bottles and 32 were 500ml. Two distillery machines used to brew the alcohol were also seized.
The woman was one of four people arrested by Singapore Customs during enforcement operations at several locations against peddlers and buyers of duty-unpaid liquor on Oct 8.
A total of 257 bottles with a total estimated volume of 668.5l of alcohol, one truck and two distillery machines were seized during the operations.
The total estimated goods and services tax (GST) and duty evaded amounted to about $35,932.
In one operation, a Singaporean man, 45, was arrested for storing duty-unpaid liquor at his Loyang residence. A total of 19 bottles of samsoo or "baijiu" were seized. The liquor was allegedly intended for sale.
In another case, a male Chinese national, 47, was arrested for delivering two bottles of samsoo at the lift lobby of a Jurong West block.
Officers conducted a follow-up search at his Macpherson residence and seized two more bottles.
Lastly, another male Chinese national, 42, was arrested for delivering duty-unpaid liquor at the loading bay of an HDB block in Jurong West.
A total of 129 2l bottles of samsoo with alcohol content of 56 per cent were found in the back of a truck as well as under the front passenger seat used for the delivery.
The truck and alcohol were seized.
Singapore Customs Deputy Head of Suppression and Community Engagement Branch Eric Chan said: "We are actively monitoring and acting against the peddling and buying of duty-unpaid liquor on platforms like WeChat and Telegram.
"While the price difference or the allure of quick profits might tempt buyers and sellers, the penalties are severe and simply not worth the risk."
Offenders can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to two years.
Investigations are ongoing.
