Indonesians accused of entering S'pore illegally allegedly had 2,700 packs of contraband cigarettes

Four Indonesian men accused of entering Singapore's waters without any travel documents allegedly had 2,700 packets of contraband cigarettes in their possession.

On May 19, Ripan, 28; Mahyudin, 32, Asmin Alexander, 50 and Ridwan Akarin, 50, were each charged with one count of entering Singapore without valid passes. Both Ripan and Mahyudin go by only one name.

Police and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint statement on May 18 that the four men were said to be in a small craft in the sea near Pulau Tekong when the Police Coast Guard (PCG) detected them shortly before 1.30am on May 17.

Officers from the PCG, Gurkha Contingent, the Special Operations Command and the K-9 Unit then responded to the incident and arrested the four unarmed Indonesians.

A police spokesperson added: "The men were detained outside the protected areas of Pulau Tekong. They were allegedly found without any travel documents and in possession of uncustomed goods.

"A total of 2,700 packets of assorted duty-unpaid cigarettes, and one fibreglass craft, which was fitted with one outboard motor, were seized in the operation."

The men's cases will be mentioned again in court on May 26

Offenders convicted of entering Singapore illegally can be jailed for up to six months and receive at least three strokes of the cane.