Singapore Customs

Train Hard. Trade Safe.

Hazardous materials don't announce themselves. That's why Singapore Customs and PSA Singapore officers put their skills to the test at the annual emergency response exercise held at Tuas Export Inspection Station (TEIS) on 18 May 2026.

🔍Detect. 💪🏻Respond. 🟢Neutralise.

The simulation drills are designed to mirror real-world CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) threats, testing how quickly and effectively teams can identify and respond to hazardous materials hidden within export containers.

Securing Singapore's trade goes beyond facilitating the movement of goods. Through joint training and coordinated response, we work with our partners to protect and strengthen Singapore’s supply chain, reinforcing our status as a trusted global trading hub.

A Progressive Customs for an Exceptional Singapore – Powered by People. Accelerated by AI.

Singapore Customs held its annual Workplan Seminar on 21 May 2026, graced by Ms Ngiam Siew Ying, Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance. Ms Ngiam was joined by Singapore Customs Director-General Tan Hung Hooi for a fireside chat with staff which covered topics such as the impact of AI on the role of Customs, as well as leadership insights.

This year's seminar, which was held at the Customs Operations Command, showcased progress across key transformation initiatives, including the:

👆 Self-Service Centres at our present and future checkpoints which make declarations and tax payments more seamless, allowing Customs officers to focus on data-driven enforcement work
✅ Compliance Management System which automates processes and features robust, adaptive detection capabilities
⏩ Upcoming Customs AI Accelerator Programme which seeks to deepen officers' capabilities to apply AI meaningfully in their work

Singapore Customs continues to actively transform itself, protecting the revenue that funds Singapore's future and facilitating trade that supports businesses, jobs, and economic growth.

Cambodia Study Visit to Singapore
7 - 8 May 2026

Singapore Customs, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade & Industry welcomed officials from Cambodia for a study visit on Singapore’s strategic goods control.

Co-organised with the U.S. Department of State’s Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program, the exchange underscored our shared commitment to preventing the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and strengthening supply chain security for the responsible and secure trade of strategic goods.

A “Paw”fect plan until it wasn’t 🐶🐶

Six foreign nationals have been arrested in connection to a case concerning duty-unpaid ci******es concealed within packets of dog food.

Singapore Customs conducted an enforcement operation on 30 April 2026 at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 and found 3,500 cartons of duty-unpaid ci******es hidden in a public utilities room of a multi-storey carpark and a nearby van.

The total duty and GST evaded amounted to about $453,965. Investigations are ongoing.

Read the full Media Release here: https://go.gov.sg/singaporecustoms-mr-13may2026

Stay vigilant—report any smuggling activities to Singapore Customs at https://go.gov.sg/reportcustomsoffence.

Secret Menu?

Singapore Customs conducted two separate operations at Circuit Road and Guillemard Road on 23 and 29 Apr 2026 respectively against peddlers of duty-unpaid ci******es.

During the operation at Guillemard Road, a 62-year-old Singaporean man, who was a food stallholder, and his 48-year-old female accomplice were arrested for peddling duty-unpaid ci******es from the stall.

In another operation at Circuit Road, two Singaporean men aged 68 and 70 were arrested for peddling duty-unpaid ci******es at a void deck.

📦Customs seized over 97 cartons and 498 packets of duty-unpaid ci******es, as well as $875 cash suspected to be proceeds from sales. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to about $19,000.

🏛️ One man has been charged in the State Courts, and the other 3 individuals are under investigation.

👉 Remember, buying, selling, storing, or consuming duty-unpaid ci******es is illegal and carries severe penalties. Report illegal activities at https://go.gov.sg/reportcustomsoffence

Strengthening Supply Chain Integrity Through International Partnership

Singapore Customs was proud to co-host the WCO Supply Chain Integrity Workshop alongside the World Customs Organization - Organisation Mondiale des Douanes (WCO) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) from 27 April to 1 May 2026.

Over five days, customs officers from across ASEAN exchanged insights, experiences and best practices on strengthening supply chain security and resilience. Participants also benefitted from valuable perspectives shared by WCO trainers from ABF and the Jamaica Customs Agency, while engaging in meaningful discussions on emerging risks and evolving threats in the global trade landscape.

In today’s increasingly complex trade environment, strong international cooperation is more important than ever. Workshops like these strengthen collective capabilities, deepen trusted partnerships, and help customs administrations better safeguard the integrity of global trade.

Supply chain security is a shared responsibility — and through collaboration, vigilance and trust, we can continue to enable the secure and seamless flow of legitimate trade.

🚘🚘🚘 Putting the brakes on duty evasion for imported vehicles

On 24 April 2026, a 59-year-old Singaporean man was fined over $1 million by the State Courts for fraudulent evasion of duty on over 30 motor vehicles imported into Singapore.

Other than importing motor vehicles for sales, he also helped individuals to source and import their motor vehicles from overseas. He liaised with the overseas suppliers to provide false invoices for use in Customs declarations.

Read the full Media Release here: https://go.gov.sg/singaporecustoms-mr-5may2026