GEIS-新闻详情

More people bringing offensive weapons into Singapore, including slingshots and knuckle dusters

2023-12-14 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE – There were 77 cases of offensive weapons detected in air cargo entering Singapore from January to October 2023, a 67 per cent increase from the 46 cases in the same period in 2022.

The police and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) revealed these latest figures at the Changi Airfreight Centre (CAC) on Dec 13.

The Straits Times understands the spike is mainly due to people bringing in knuckle dusters and slingshots.

Offensive weapons include airsoft guns, flick knives, nunchakus, machetes and pepper sprays.

To demonstrate how they are tackling this concerning trend, the police and ICA showed how they detect and foil attempts to import offensive weapons in air cargo.

Before the cargoes arrive, ICA uses data to identify high-risk consignments, cargoes and parcels.

At CAC, all cargo vehicles go through a radiographic scanning portal, which produces a scan of the vehicle’s contents.

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At the Changi Airfreight Centre, all cargo vehicles go through a radiographic scanning portal, which produces a scan of the vehicle’s contents. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

ICA’s image analysts look for anomalies such as items which do not tally with the permit information.

If anomalies are spotted, officers conduct more detailed checks on individual cargoes with X-ray machines.

The X-ray shows the shape and density of each item clearly, regardless of how many layers of packaging are wrapped around it.

Blue colours on the X-ray scan indicate items with high density, such as metal. Orange shows organic items, while green indicates mixed materials such as glass or plastic.

Cargo clearance officer Sergeant (2) Muhammad Haikal Mahmood told reporters: “Usually, for offensive weapons such as knuckle dusters and batons, they would be in blue colour (on the scan) as they are made with metal and have high density.”

He showed how the machine detected his baton and handcuffs, which appeared in the scan clearly in dark blue. Both are controlled items that require a licence or permit from the police before import.

Cargo clearance officer Sergeant (2) Muhammad Haikal Mahmood showing how the machine detected his baton and handcuffs, which appeared in the scan clearly in dark blue. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

ICA officers also have a handheld device that can detect items with explosives, such as firearms, hidden in parcels.

All it takes is a swab with a tester paper on the surface of the parcel. The tester paper is then inserted in the device, which indicates whether explosives are present. The same device can also test for the presence of narcotics.

When such weapons are found, ICA officers refer the cases to the relevant agencies, including the police. The police may then seize the items for further investigation.

Sgt (2) Haikal swabbing an item with a tester paper. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM