Gov Tolerates Foreigners, Does NOTHING to Help Locals
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This is simply amazing; our gov can put up with all the vices & crimes by foreigners, and yet do not see the need to filter their influx.
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No more hiding in bushes for Geylang's brazen peddlers-now every passerby is a target
By Kor Kian Beng & Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
October 25, 2006
YOU would think they had nothing to lose.
Despite increased enforcement, illegal cigarette peddlers are boldly hitting the streets.
To them, anybody is a potential customer.
Last November, The New Paper reported how peddlers would secretly sell contraband cigarettes at a small park in Lorong 14, Geylang.
Then, they would do business only with familiar faces and kept their wares hidden in rubbish bins.
These pictures show peddlers operating openly in Lorong 14, Geylang.--Picture: Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
Last week, The New Paper staked out the area on four days for several hours each time.
Holding a few packs in their outstretched hands, about 20 peddlers would accost a potential customer.
When we approached one peddler, he asked: 'Marlboro? Texas 5? Very cheap. $5.
'One carton also cheap, only $45.'
In coffeeshops, a pack of Marlboro Red costs around $11, while a carton of 10 packs sells for around $110.
When asked whether business was good, he looked puzzled and scurried away to approach another passer-by.
The peddlers often leave the cigarette packs in plastic bags on the pavement.
Some peddlers also have a 'drive-through' service.
Customers would drive up as they stood by the roadside and hand over money in exchange for cigarettes - without a word being said and with the buyers staying in their vehicles and driving off just as quickly.
To attract these customers, many peddlers stand along the busy Geylang Road during rush-hour.
The buyers are mostly middle-aged men, but we also saw a couple of teenagers on bicycles.
Scenes like this show how Geylang has become the hottest place for contraband cigarettes after the authorities clamped down on peddlers at Yew Tee Industrial Estate.
Since the TNP report last November, the Customs has stepped up efforts against the peddlers in Geylang. (See report on facing page.)
The authorities also made the park more open by trimming the trees and removing some stone benches.
But from our observation, the number of peddlers has actually increased.
Apart from contraband cigarettes, there is another group selling cough mixture near the park.
MORE FOREIGNERS INVOLVED
A former peddler, 27, who is now a bouncer, told The New Paper this is because the syndicates are using more foreigners as peddlers.
First, there is a ready and willing pool of them - many them are workers, overstayers, social pass holders and illegals - living in Geylang.
Second, they are lured by the quick profit.
A pedler holding his wares in a plastic bag
The former peddler said he used to earn around $2,000 a week.
Also, these peddlers are opening new markets among the foreign workers for the syndicates, he added.
And it's not just contraband cigarettes being sold there.
A smaller group of men, operating just outside a coffeeshop near the park, could be seen selling cough mixture.
A man, who appeared to be a foreigner, bought a bottle from them, drank the mixture immediately and threw the bottle on the ground - all in one swift movement and in broad daylight.
The New Paper had reported in March on these cough mixture peddlers operating in Geylang.
DRUNKEN FIGHTS
Nearby residents who spoke to The New Paper simply shook their heads when asked about the illicit activities.
All declined to be named, fearing reprisals.
One resident, who gave his name as Mr Tan, said gambling also goes on at the park.
Mr Tan, who is in his 60s and has been living near Lorong 14 for six years, said: 'These people never rest. You can see them there from 7am and they will be there till late into the night. When they are drunk, fights break out. We are concerned about our safety.'
One woman, who runs a shop nearby, said such scenes are not uncommon at Geylang. She said: 'Of course, these things must be stopped. But how do you stop them?'
Similarly, another resident said: 'What's the point of calling the police? Every other day the authorities raid the place. But the next moment, these people are back again.'
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More raids, arrests
CUSTOMS has stepped up its operations in Geylang this year.
Customs officers have arrested and charged in court 80 illegal peddlers since January, a Customs spokesman said.
Another 131 people were caught and fined for buying contraband cigarettes from these peddlers.
So far this year, 75,900 packets of contraband cigarettes have been seized in the area.
With regards to the current situation in Geylang, the spokesman said: 'We will step up our enforcement efforts at Geylang. We have organised many raids there, and will continue to do so.'
With more foreigners being involved in peddling, Customs has been conducting joint operations with other agencies, including the Ministry of Manpower.
All peddlers arrested will be charged in court, the spokesman said. Buyers can face a minimum fine of $200 for each packet of contraband cigarettes.
Foreign workers convicted will have their work permits revoked and be repatriated.
The spokesman said Customs has also increased publicity and education efforts targeted at foreign workers.
For example, flyers and posters (some in 12 languages) have been distributed to advise foreign workers against buying or selling duty-unpaid cigarettes.
These efforts have resulted in a 10 per cent spike in the tip-offs to Customs intelligence officers.
Anyone with information on duty evasion activities can contact Customs at 1800-233-0000 or e-mail [email protected] -
erm, the yew tee group is still peddling there.....was cycling on early tuesday morning around 3.30am & i saw them with red plastic bags.
so it seems the authorities have not done a good cleanup
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Simple reason that foreigners can choose not to come here and give their money to gahmen. YOU got no where to go and YOUR money is already in gahmen pocket.
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what to do
our goverment love to acting smart and have the all-soo-high mentality
i bet my arse foreigners are laughing their socks off that the goverment are sacrificing social development for economic gains -
Now ain't that c.ock? -
Why don't the geylang residents just call the police every night?
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I think Spore Customs is doing something by arresting the smuggler n Shutterbug, maybe u should contribute more to the govt by providing
info to the Spore Customs n please stop saying bad thing about foreigners.
It will not do u any good. -
It's still all about money, as per all our discussion here.
By limiting their influx, where do you think they get the money?
If somebody calls up the Customs, provide info and proof, Customs will send people down to observe for a while, then raid it.
If those people are illegal, they face fines and get extradited back. Money collected.
Illegal peddling of cigarettes carries a hefty fine and a jail term. Money collected again.
They earn faster this way than they collect the cigarette tax that they impose.
Now to cough mixture. According to the law, nobody is allowed to buy cough mixtures without prescription. If you do, you can only buy it every fortnightly, provided you have not recovered from your cough.
Getting caught for selling cough mixtures illegally will result in a jail term and fine. Again, it's money. -
Some of the illegal seller have no money to pay the fine. The idea of the govt is to ensure Sporean kicked the habit of smoking.Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:It's still all about money, as per all our discussion here.
By limiting their influx, where do you think they get the money?
If somebody calls up the Customs, provide info and proof, Customs will send people down to observe for a while, then raid it.
If those people are illegal, they face fines and get extradited back. Money collected.
Illegal peddling of cigarettes carries a hefty fine and a jail term. Money collected again.
They earn faster this way than they collect the cigarette tax that they impose.
Now to cough mixture. According to the law, nobody is allowed to buy cough mixtures without prescription. If you do, you can only buy it every fortnightly, provided you have not recovered from your cough.
Getting caught for selling cough mixtures illegally will result in a jail term and fine. Again, it's money. -
same as DVD pirates in JB..custom close one eye already
in a few months time they sure do the same thing for unpaid cig sellers... -
Jail's their second home then.Originally posted by will4:Some of the illegal seller have no money to pay the fine. The idea of the govt is to ensure Sporean kicked the habit of smoking.
Whether allowing, fining and jailing of such people will make smokers quit smoking, it's hard to tell. -
Yup,i bet they already laughing right now.Originally posted by 0lala:what to do
our goverment love to acting smart and have the all-soo-high mentality
i bet my arse foreigners are laughing their socks off that the goverment are sacrificing social development for economic gains -
Talking about G!! I had just brought a few overseas frds there.
They were praising our Sg Gov has done a good job for letting ppls to invest their gold!!!
But they also raised an intersting question who collected $ from the yellow cards holders n their operators, the guys in their countries can be listed on SGX oreli!!! -
this contributes to the economy too.
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if they want people to kick the habit... lots more can be done....Originally posted by will4:Some of the illegal seller have no money to pay the fine. The idea of the govt is to ensure Sporean kicked the habit of smoking.
and pls lor... (even if they do something) everyting e govt impose has to do with $$ lor..... so that they can earn more.... -
mai gong ah!!!Originally posted by will4:Some of the illegal seller have no money to pay the fine. The idea of the govt is to ensure Sporean kicked the habit of smoking. -
I will stop saying bad things about foreigners, WHEN foreigners STOPS doing bad things.Originally posted by will4:I think Spore Customs is doing something by arresting the smuggler n Shutterbug, maybe u should contribute more to the govt by providing
info to the Spore Customs n please stop saying bad thing about foreigners.
It will not do u any good.
Why should I be catching the rats the gov lets in? They are responsible, they should clean up the infestations!
Otherwise, why the hell are we paying gov so much for???
For them to shake legs and point fingers ah??? -
shutterbug is xenophobia.
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is that a mental problem?
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Inform the police that, this civil case will endanger their paycheck. Ask them to act fast. If they catch them fast, they can have fatter paycheck. If they let them slip away, their paycheck remains the same lor, but might get smaller and smaller lah!
They catch the rats, you pay less tax.Originally posted by ShutterBug:I will stop saying bad things about foreigners, WHEN foreigners STOPS doing bad things.
Why should I be catching the rats the gov lets in? They are responsible, they should clean up the infestations!
The rats pay more fines, Gahmen need less $$ from taxpayer (optimistic view, coz it won't happen ). Unless you think MORE tax is good.
No, for them to abuse the newspaper to tell other political parties to stop wayanging. And also boost to the world that this small red dot is "first" in many things. (Like taxi drivers with highest education level)Originally posted by ShutterBug:Otherwise, why the hell are we paying gov so much for???
For them to shake legs and point fingers ah??? -
frankly i pity the smokers. knn, the ciggies are so expensive as compared to the contraband.
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hello.. singapore is doing fine and in fact we are living alot better than others in the world. i wonder what is wrong with u guys saying this and that about teh government and doing nothing to help. if goverment does nothing to help locals then i guess u wont be having ur jobs and food and clean water. if u think that u can do better than the leaders , then join the parlimant, we need more human resources .. not just people who complains and complains. if the goevrnment is realy that bad then we will not be a developed conuntry in 40 years. no offence, but seriously , rather than complaining , help to make this country a better place. i agree that there is certainly room for improvement but by saying that the government did nothing to help locals seemed too bias.
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Well said cause if u look at the neighbouring country, some people living more jialat.Originally posted by bcjxbcjx69:hello.. singapore is doing fine and in fact we are living alot better than others in the world. i wonder what is wrong with u guys saying this and that about teh government and doing nothing to help. if goverment does nothing to help locals then i guess u wont be having ur jobs and food and clean water. if u think that u can do better than the leaders , then join the parlimant, we need more human resources .. not just people who complains and complains. if the goevrnment is realy that bad then we will not be a developed conuntry in 40 years. no offence, but seriously , rather than complaining , help to make this country a better place. i agree that there is certainly room for improvement but by saying that the government did nothing to help locals seemed too bias. -
There's your problem. Why compare with those with less? We should compare with those above us like UK, US etc.Originally posted by will4:Well said cause if u look at the neighbouring country, some people living more jialat. -
Ya...come to UK and pay S$5 for a bus ride and S$8 for the MRT. People do not all get high pay either...lots of people living on the equivalent of S$3k a month, but have to spend 800GBP (about S$2400) a month renting a studio flat.Originally posted by highway69:There's your problem. Why compare with those with less? We should compare with those above us like UK, US etc.