HSA Charges Case of Smuggling Prohibited Tobacco Products into Singapore

On 19 September 2025, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has charged a 38-year-old man, Gobi Thayanithi, in court for attempting to smuggle chewing tobacco, which is prohibited in Singapore.  

 

2          On 18 September 2025, HSA was alerted by officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, who noticed anomalies in the scanned images of a Malaysia-registered lorry driven by Gobi at Woodlands Checkpoint and referred it for enhanced checks. At further checks, officers uncovered chewing tobacco hidden in the cabin compartment. During a search of his vehicle, a total of 3,450 sachets of chewing tobacco was found.

 

3          The case was adjourned to 7 October 2025.

 

4          HSA takes a serious view of such offences. Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, any person convicted of an import, distribution, sale or offer for sale offence for smokeless tobacco is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000, or to imprisonment for up to six months or to both, for the first offence and a fine not exceeding $20,000, or to imprisonment for up to 12 months or to both, for subsequent offences.

 

HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY

Published: 19 Sep 2025

Subscribeto stay up to date with HSA news and regulatory updates.

Press Releases