Over 81,000 cartons of fake cigarettes destined for Mexico turn up at Changi Airport warehouse

Singapore Customs officers discovered more than 81,000 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes during an inspection at a warehouse at Changi Airport on June 9. The shipment, initially labeled as cigarettes under a transhipment permit for Mexico, contained a variety of cigarette brands packaged in black and green cardboard boxes. Authorities suspected the cigarettes were fake and reached out to the trademark owners, who confirmed their authenticity as counterfeit goods.

Once the trademark proprietors concluded their infringement proceedings, the counterfeit cigarettes would be disposed of. Singapore Customs emphasized that they do not support the use of their Free Trade Zones for illegal activities and pledged to collaborate with local and international partners to eradicate such activities. These zones are areas where goods can be stored, processed, or transhipped without paying customs duties or Goods and Services Tax, as long as the goods do not enter Singapore's domestic market.

Singapore Customs operates eleven such zones, including eight near sea terminals and three at Changi Airport. On June 2, Mexico's National Customs Agency reported finding approximately 4,170 kilograms of suspected counterfeit cigarettes arriving from Singapore at Mexico City International Airport, according to Infobae. La Jornada later stated that the goods were seized in a joint operation with the Mexican navy and were described as one of the primary transit points for illicit tobacco trade in Asia. Singapore Customs has not disclosed whether the two incidents are linked.