3 puppies dead after a man’s foiled attempt to smuggle 12 dogs into Singapore

Photo: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority/Facebook
Photo: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority/Facebook

One 25-year-old Singaporean male is currently under investigation for attempting to smuggle 12 puppies across the border. On Dec 11 around 3:45am, the Singapore-registered car arrived at Tuas Checkpoint and stopped for vehicle boot checks before entering Singapore. During the inspection, an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer observed “anomalies” in the car boot and proceeded to examine it further.

Twelve sedated puppies were discovered in the spare tyre compartment, some in weak conditions, and three eventually died. The driver was later referred to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) for investigation, as he did not have valid health certificate and import permits. The other canines are currently taken care of in quarantine at AVA’s facilities, according to a joint press release from both authorities.

The importation of animals without an AVA permit is illegal, and perpetrators can be slapped with the maximum penalty of S$10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year. Regulation is strict to prevent exotic diseases coming into Singapore and to protect the welfare of animals.

So if you’re thinking about bringing live animals, birds, or insects into Singapore and you haven’t got a proper permit, think again. When in doubt, refer to AVA’s website for more information.



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