A group of 12 members of the media gathered in two vans with staff from the Singapore Customs at around 9pm on Tuesday ( October 8 ).  ,
We just knew that there had been an police operation on duty-unpaid alcohol and that we had no idea where we were going.  ,
Although these things happen frequently, this was the first moment the internet had been invited to watch one.  ,
CNA noticed a truck had been cordoned off at the loading/unloading bay when it came up under a Housing Board ( HDB) block in the Jurong West neighborhood.  ,
Customs officials flanked the car, inspecting boxes of illicit liquor.
A total of 129 bottles, each containing two gallons of variety, a clear Chinese spirit with a 56 % alcohol content, were discovered in the rear as well as under the front passenger seats of a vehicle used to deliver the contraband goods.
These were one of the 257 containers that Singapore Customs said in a press release on Friday that were seized during police operations at various locations against purveyors and buyers earlier this year. Around 668.5 L of unpaid duty-free alcohol was seized overall.
During the course of the operation, the vehicle and two distillery equipment were likewise seized.  ,
The total estimated duty and GST evaded amounted to about$ 35, 932 ( US$ 27, 521 ), Singapore Customs said.
A 42-year-old Malaysian woman and two adult Chinese nationals were detained for delivering illegal alcohol.
A 45-year-old Taiwanese person was also arrested for collecting duty-unpaid wine in his house, said Singapore Customs, adding that investigations are ongoing.
From January to June this time, there have been 869 duty-unpaid wine criminals, according to statistics provided by the conventions.  ,
During this period, a overall level of 10, 020L of illegal wine were seized.  ,