mid-year report 2012 immigration & checkpoints authority - ICA

MID-YEAR REPORT 2012
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
INSSPPI I IRI ING CCONFFI IDEENCCEE IN I ALLLL
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TREND #1: NUMBER OF IMMIGRATION OFFENDERS ARRESTED
CONTINUES TO FALL
Fewer immigration offenders (IOs) were
arrested in the first six months of this year, a
total of 1,318 IOs, compared to 1,698 and
2,077 arrested in the same period in 2011
and 2010 respectively.
2 The figure of 1,318 for the first six
months of this year comprises 408 illegal
immigrants and 910 overstayers. This
represents a fall of 20.2% and 23.3%
respectively compared to the same period
last year.
Year
(Jan to Jun)
3. ICA’s multi-pronged approach to weed out illegal immigrants and overstayers remains
effective. The close working relationships that ICA has forged with its strategic partners over
the years, including the Police and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has contributed to the
downward trend of immigration offences. Coupled with tough laws, Singapore’s IO situation
has been kept in check, and the number of IOs arrested for the first half of 2012 is at an all-time
low.
Total no. of illegal immigrants
arrested
Total no. of illegal immigrants &
overstayers arrested
(January to June)
Total no. of overstayers
arrested
2010 671 1,406
2011 511 1,187
2012 408 910
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IMMIGRATION OFFENDERS PULLED DIFFERENT STUNTS
Besides hiding themselves in conveyances and vessels in their attempt to sneak into our
country, illegal immigrants could have also used fraudulent travel documents or impersonated
others at the time of immigration clearance
(From left: Sandwiched between mattress & cupboard; Crouching in the back seat)
ARREST OF HARBOURERS AND EMPLOYERS ON A STEADY DECLINE
4. Figures for the arrest of both harbourers and employers of IOs have been declining
steadily. The number of harbourers arrested in the first half of 2012 dropped by about 9.5%
compared to the same period last year. Similarly, the number of employers arrested also
decreased by 16.7%.
Year Total no. of harbourers of IOs
Total no. of employers of IOs
(Jan to Jun)
arrested
arrested
2010 33 19
2011 21 18
2012 19 15
5. From 1 July 2012, ICA has taken over all the investigative and associated functions for
harbouring and employment cases from the Police. This transfer enables the enforcement of all
immigration related offences to be consolidated under ICA, reaping economies of scale and
synergies within the organisation. This also allows ICA to set standards and strengthen
competencies in this particular area.
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6. ICA officers will continue to remain vigilant and work with our strategic counterparts to
mount inland operations to weed out harbourers and employers of IOs.
SPREADING KEY MESSAGES THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION
7. ICA continues to leverage on its
network of volunteers to share anti-
harbouring messages with residents in their
precincts. News releases on case detections
involving IOs are regularly disseminated to
media outlets to educate the public and
caution them against harbouring illegals.
Immigration offences and related cases are
also featured on TV programmes such as
Crimewatch.
Source: Mediacorp
Volunteers disseminating anti-harbouring messages
to students during community events
8. Following the positive reception of “Point of
Entry” (POE), season 2, the local drama series on ICA
has continued to raise the public’s awareness of the
different immigration offences. Telecast on prime
time national TV earlier this year, POE 2 has helped
deliver ICA’s key messages to a wider audience.
Viewers gained invaluable insights through the cases
revolving around themes centered primarily on
immigration and border security matters (such as
passport forgery and smuggling syndicates) of
Singapore. The second season also showcased how the
different agencies of the Home Team work closely
together with ICA to ensure Singapore is kept safe and
secure.
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TREND #2: CONTRABAND SMUGGLING CASES REMAIN STEADY
Total no. of contraband smuggling cases
detected
(January to June)
11. Besides stepped-up enforcement efforts at the checkpoints, the increased effectiveness of
ICA officers in terms of detection and investigative follow-up has sent a strong deterrent signal to
potential offenders.
12. The smuggling tactics used by smugglers are constantly evolving and becoming more
sophisticated. They are turning to more deceptive and creative methods of concealment in their
attempt to beat ICA’s security regime.
9. For the first half of 2012, the
number of contraband cases detected
registered a slight decline of 39,500. This is
a 2.7% decrease compared to the same
period last year.
10. Enhanced security checks at our
borders to prevent smugglers’ attempts to
sneak in contrabands are important
because the same methods of concealment
used by contraband smugglers may be used
by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives
to carry out more sinister attacks here.
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When >> 14 May 2012
SOPHISTICATED SMUGGLERS?
… only to be caught!
What >> 4,748 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes worth a potential customs duty of $335,000 and GST of
$32,000 uncovered
How >> Hidden among a consignment of bottled drinking water in a lorry. Lone driver produced permits
declaring lorry to be carrying a consignment of 1,584 cartons of drinking water
>
(From left: Bottled drinking water; cartons of contraband cigarettes, hidden in truck)
When >> 16 May 2012
CASE #1 – Bottled Up
CASE #2 – Golden Retrieval
What >> Assortment of sex enhancement pills, oral contraceptives and sleeping pills
How >> ICA, Health Sciences Authority and Ministry of Manpower officers found unauthorised sale of
medicines in one of the shops at Golden Mile Complex
>
(From left: Unlicensed medicine seized; hidden in false ceiling)
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EMERGING TREND: Concealment in parcels
13. Smugglers have been trying to bring in
controlled/prohibited items by means of parcels.
Between January and June 2012, ICA officers detected 19
cases of partial/incomplete declaration of parcels. For
the same period in 2011 and 2010, there were four and
one case detected respectively. Some of the common
items uncovered through such modus operandi include
sexual enhancement pills, airsoft guns and cigarettes (see
photos on the right).
14. The same method of concealment could similarly
be employed by terrorists to smuggle security-sensitive
materials such as weapons into Singapore.
COMMON SIGHT: Concealment in conveyances
ILLICIT CIGGIES HIDDEN IN MODIFIED COMPARTMENTS
WHAT’S INSIDE THE BOX?
Sexual enhancement pills
Airsoft guns
Cigarettes
15. Contraband smuggling cases involving duty-unpaid cigarettes stashed in modified
compartments at various parts of conveyances continue to be a common sight at the checkpoints.
(From left: under Emergency Exit staircase of bus; car rear bumper; rear passenger seat)
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BUILDING CAPACITY BY LEVERAGING ON INNOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGY
16. ICA continues to leverage on technology to equip and to allow its officers to discharge their
duties efficiently, effectively and professionally. With these capabilities in place, ICA will be
better positioned as a leading border security agency to face the evolving security threats,
making Singapore a safe and secure home for all.
SOME TECHNOLOGICAL ENABLERS…
17. In April this year, ICA introduced technology-on-the-go
named MAVIS (Mobile Automated Verification and
Identification System) that allows officers to conduct more
efficient and effective checks on the identity of suspected
persons on the ground. MAVIS’ biometrics screening capability
also enables officers to ascertain a suspected person’s identity
even without his/her identification documents.
18. i-FACES assists ICA officers to detect forgery and impersonation cases, enabling frontline
officers to perform facial recognition and matching of travellers’ images against those persons-
of-interest in its database.
19. The Encyclopedia of Passport System (EOPs) is another facility that assists ICA officers in
authenticating dubious passports. The system has the capability to scan, crop and enlarge
passport photos so that officers are better able to detect tampered travel documents.
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DEVELOPING OFFICERS’ CAPABILITIES TO STAY AHEAD AT ALL TIMES
20. Capacity building and capability
development remain key priorities for ICA as we
gear ourselves to be future-ready for tomorrow’s
challenges. ICA has in place a holistic training
framework to meet the learning needs of our
officers who are on duty round-the-clock. We
have taken creative steps to introduce multi-
faceted learning platforms to address the
geographical and time challenges that our officers face. This includes the introduction of e-gaming
concept that leverages on actual case scenarios to ensure that officers across checkpoints can
continue to hone their skills and deepen their expertise.
21. The good mid-year performance would not have been possible without the sacrifices made by
our own officers, and also by our community partners. As Commissioner ICA, Mr Clarence Yeo sums
it up:
“The evolving security threats and concerns that ICA faces pose
challenges to our officers. It also reminds us to stay vigilant at all
times. As a leader in border security and identification, ICA strives
to keep Singapore safe and secure by being future-ready through
capacity building, capability development and human capital
transformation. ICA’s favourable mid-year performance is a result
of the good effort of ICA officers, and certainly the continuous
support of our community and partners.”
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Ms Serene Wong
Senior Public & Internal Communications Executive
Corporate Communications Division
6391 6544 | 9755 2092
serene_wong@ica.gov.sg
Ms Brenda Tham
Senior Public & Internal Communications Executive
Corporate Communications Division
6391 6187 | 97552286
brenda_tham@ica.gov.sg
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
http://twitter.com/icasingapore
http://www.ica.gov.sg
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