• Over 30 cases of pet animal or wildlife smuggling detected at Singapore’s borders in 2023

          On 10 January 2024, the National Parks Board (NParks) was alerted to a case of animal smuggling at Woodlands Checkpoint. Officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had inspected a vehicle and found five puppies and three kittens hidden in the spare tyre compartment. The driver was arrested in relation to case. This is the first case of animal or wildlife smuggling detected this year. In 2023, over 30 cases were detected by NParks and partner agencies such as ICA, three of which were detected in December.

2.           On 14 December 2023, ICA officers thwarted an attempt to illegally import an Asian arowana and three axolotls at Singapore Cruise Centre. On 27 December 2023, NParks was alerted to two cases of animal smuggling at Woodlands Checkpoint - in the first case, officers from ICA had detected five puppies in the boot of a vehicle, while in the second case, five kittens were discovered hidden under the seats of another vehicle, resulting in the arrests of both drivers by NParks. During investigations, NParks arrested another three individuals believed to be connected to these two cases.

3.           In addition, NParks has been conducting islandwide enforcement operations against the illegal sale of animals and wildlife for the pet trade, including those that take place online. This has resulted in the seizure of over 180 wildlife from more than 50 premises. These cases involved individuals who had advertised various wildlife species for sale through online platforms such as Telegram. Many of the species that were being offered for sale are exotic wildlife species that are not allowed to be sold or offered for sale, or kept as pets in Singapore, including several species which are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

4.          NParks and ICA, together with partner agencies, will continue our surveillance and enforcement efforts to deter and detect smuggling and illegal trade of pet animals and wildlife. The public can play their part by not contributing to the demand for illegally imported animals, wildlife parts and products.

Smuggling and illegal trade of pet animals and wildlife compromises animal health and welfare, and poses a threat to public health

Four smuggling cases detected since December 2023

5.          On 10 January 2024, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint found five puppies and three kittens hidden in a vehicle’s spare tyre compartment during a vehicle inspection. The 42-year-old driver was arrested by NParks.

6.           On 14 December 2023, ICA officers at Singapore Cruise Centre detected an illegal import of an Asian arowana and three axolotls. These CITES-listed species were found to have been imported without any CITES permit.

7.         On 27 December 2023, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint found five kittens hidden under the seats of a vehicle during a vehicle inspection. The 36-year-old driver was then arrested by NParks, and subsequently, another individual was arrested in relation to the case. Earlier in the day, ICA officers detected five puppies hidden in the boot of another vehicle at Woodlands Checkpoint. The driver, a 20-year-old man, along with two others, were subsequently arrested by NParks in relation to the case.

8.          Investigations are ongoing for all cases. The kittens and puppies that have been seized are currently under the care of the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a cluster of NParks, while the Asian arowana and axolotls are currently being cared for at NParks’ Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation. 

Other cases of animal smuggling in 2023

9.            In 2023, NParks and partner agencies detected over 30 cases of pet animal and wildlife smuggling. These cases include the illegal importation of 337 birds in March 2023. Two of the men involved in the case were sentenced on 14 August 2023 to 60 weeks’ imprisonment and 72 weeks’ imprisonment respectively, while the court case against the third individual is currently ongoing. The sentences imposed against the two men are the highest to date for smuggling of animals. In June 2023, six puppies and two kittens were found inside a modified fuel tank compartment, where the kittens were concealed in nylon bags. The driver was sentenced to 26 weeks’ jail in September 2023. A man who was caught attempting to smuggle 10 puppies and three kittens at Woodlands Checkpoint in August 2023 was sentenced to 40 weeks’ jail last November.

10.            Please refer to Annex A for more details on smuggling cases detected in 2023.

Public has a role to play in ensuring animal health and welfare, and public health

11.          The well-being of smuggled animals is often compromised by poor holding and transport conditions during the smuggling process. Animals are usually transported in cramped conditions with poor ventilation. In some cases, the animals are heavily sedated to minimise noise and movement to avoid detection by the authorities. This has resulted in poor health conditions, injuries, and even death of the smuggled animals.

12.           Pet animals from unapproved sources may have been smuggled or not bred according to the standards of animal health and care which NParks imposes on licensed breeders and pet shops in Singapore. As these animals are of unknown health statuses, it is important that members of the public do not obtain or purchase pet animals from unapproved sources. These animals may transmit diseases that can cause serious illness to other local animals as well as people who come into close contact with them, including the pet owners themselves, their families, and friends. Wildlife of unknown origin may also harbour dangerous diseases, which could harm both humans and animals.

13.          NParks has put in place an effective biosurveillance system to manage emerging threats of animal and zoonotic diseases. Our biosecurity measures prevent the introduction of exotic animal diseases such as rabies, and limit the spread of diseases to other animals. Such diseases may pose a significant threat to Singapore’s public and animal health. As smuggling of pet animals and wildlife evades biosecurity and sanitary controls, this increases the risk of diseases being transmitted from animals to humans. This is why NParks has a robust enforcement regime against illegal animal and wildlife trade and works closely with other Government agencies and international partners to tackle such trade.

14.           Pet owners, businesses and the public have a part to play. We have a shared responsibility to safeguard animal health and welfare, by not contributing to the demand for illegally imported animals. When the buying of illegally imported animals stops, the smuggling will cease. NParks strongly encourages prospective pet owners to adopt their pets from animal welfare groups or purchase them from licensed pet shops. Buyers who abet the illicit importation of their pets into Singapore may end up facing prosecution. 

NParks takes smuggling and illegal trade of animals seriously and will not hesitate to take necessary and appropriate enforcement action

15.          The Government takes a zero-tolerance stance on the illegal trade and import of pet animals and wildlife.

16.           Illegal wildlife trade threatens the survival of endangered species and contributes to habitat destruction around the world. Singapore is a signatory to Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is committed to international efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade to ensure the long-term survival of these animals. Singapore adopts a whole of government, multi-pronged approach to enforce against illegal wildlife trade through working closely with other domestic law enforcement agencies, our international partners, as well as with civil society.

17.          NParks regularly monitors physical and online marketplaces, and takes appropriate enforcement actions against perpetrators. Over the past two years, NParks has carried out island-wide operations on more than 50 premises resulting in the seizure of over 180 wildlife. These cases involved individuals who had advertised various wildlife species for sale through social media platforms such as Telegram. Many of the species that were being offered for sale are exotic wildlife species that are not allowed to be sold or offered for sale, or kept as pets in Singapore, including several species which are protected under CITES. For example, in November 2023, a man was fined $5000 for the taking and attempted sale of a Sunda pangolin. In another case, a man was fined $9600 in 2020 for offering to sell an endangered false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), a freshwater crocodile, over Telegram and for keeping three hedgehogs illegally in his home.

18.          Under the Animals and Birds Act, first-time offenders caught importing any animal or bird without a licence may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both. The illegal trade of wildlife, including non-CITES species, is regulated under the amended Wildlife Act. Under the Wildlife Act, a person must not offer for sale, sell or export any wildlife (whether alive or dead), or any part of a wildlife, unless the person has the Director General’s written approval to do so. Any individual found to have violated the laws may be fined up to $50,000, jailed up to two years, or both. The Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, which regulates trade in wildlife species protected under CITES, was also amended in 2022 to ensure that it remains effective in tackling illegal wildlife trade. The amendments included stiffer penalties for illegal trade in CITES species – a maximum imprisonment term for illegal trade in CITES species by an individual of up to six years in addition to a maximum fine of up to $100,000 per specimen.

19.          Those with information on suspected poaching, smuggling or illegal trade of pet animals and wildlife can report them to NParks via our website at www.avs.gov.sg/feedback or call us via our Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

20.           Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains a top priority for ICA. ICA will continue to work with relevant authorities to detect and deter attempts to smuggle illegal goods and items through Singapore’s checkpoints.  

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
23 JANUARY 2024

Annex A – Examples of smuggling cases detected in 2023