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The Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Customs (Customs) conducted a multi-agency enforcement operation between 6 and 12 May 2026 across the land, air, and sea checkpoints, to detect and enforce against non-compliance of Singapore’s Cross-Border Cash Reporting Regime (CBCRR) and other illegal cross-border activities. 

During the week-long operation, the authorities conducted enhanced checks on travellers and vehicles at the checkpoints. More than 12,000 travellers and 420 vehicles were identified for checks, and over 18,000 pieces of luggage and hand-carry bags were scanned or searched. 

CBCRR Offences

The CBCRR is part of the SPF’s efforts to curb money laundering, terrorist financing and other criminal activities. Singapore takes a serious view against cash smuggling and any related money laundering activities and will not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions against any individuals who commit these offences and persons who facilitate them.

During the operations, ICA detected four travellers moving cash exceeding S$20,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies) into Singapore without declaration:

• On 7 May 2026, a 59-year-old female foreign traveller was detected moving cash in multiple foreign currencies amounting to S$24,131.07 into Singapore without declaration. 
  
  
• On 8 May 2026, a 65-year-old male foreign traveller was detected moving cash in multiple foreign currencies amounting to S$22,497.50 into Singapore without declaration. 
  
  
• On 10 May 2026, a 30-year-old male foreign traveller was detected attempting to move cash in Singapore dollars amounting to S$65,000 into Singapore without declaration. 
  
  
• On 12 May 2026, a 52-year-old male foreign traveller was detected attempting to move cash in multiple foreign currencies amounting to S$38,432.72 into Singapore without declaration. 

Of these four travellers, two were issued Notices of Warning, and the remaining two were issued composition sums amounting to S$10,000 in total.

Members of the public are reminded that it is a statutory requirement to report the cross-border physical movement of Cash or Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNIs) if the total value exceeds S$20,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currency). Travellers must submit a declaration electronically within 72 hours before entering or leaving Singapore through the MyICA mobile app or via ICA’s website.  

Failure to report or to accurately report the movement of CBNIs exceeding S$20,000 is an offence punishable under Section 60(2) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992. Offenders are liable to be fined up to S$50,000 or imprisoned for a term of up to three years, or both. A confiscation order may also be issued for any part of the cash, in relation to which the offence was committed. More information on cross border cash movement reporting can be found on SPF’s website.

Customs Offences

43 travellers were caught for failing to declare and pay taxes on:

• cigarettes and/or tobacco products; 
• liquors exceeding their duty-free concession; and
• goods exceeding their Goods and Services Tax (GST) import relief.

The total duty and GST evaded amounted to about S$5,354, and S$9,740 in composition sums were imposed. In one case, a traveller was caught under-declaring the value of 120 padel rackets in his possession. In another case, a student pass holder was caught with three packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, two bottles of liquor and a GST-payable good – a computer keyboard found inside a box – that exceeded his allowance. All offences were compounded. 

Under the Customs Act, individuals involved in the fraudulent evasion of customs or excise duties may face a fine of up to 20 times the amount evaded, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

It is the responsibility of all travellers to make an accurate and complete declaration of all goods exceeding their duty-free concession and GST import relief in their possession. To avoid penalties, they are encouraged to declare and make payment for such goods up to three days before arrival using the Customs@SG Web Application, which is also available on the MyICA mobile app. Travellers may also use the Customs Declaration Kiosks located at the air, land and sea checkpoints and terminals, to declare and make payment for their goods on arrival. All cigarettes and tobacco products must comply with the standardised packaging requirements. Non-compliant products will be disposed of at the checkpoints. 

Safeguarding Singapore’s Borders

Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains a top priority for ICA. To keep Singapore safe, ICA will continue to leverage technology and data analytics to strengthen our targeting and detection capabilities, as well as work with the relevant authorities to detect and/or deter such contraband smuggling activities at the checkpoints.

Photos of the Joint Operation

Checks by various agencies

A traveller at Woodlands Checkpoints under-declared the value of 120 padel rackets intended for a customer in Singapore. 

[Photo: Singapore Customs]