Public Order | 309
provisional taxable value on 48 754 vehicles and re-assessed 9 946 of them, resulting in the collection of $5.22 billion in first registration tax by the Transport Department.
Revenue Control
The department administers a licensing and permit system to control the manufacture, import, export, storage and movement of dutiable commodities. It ensures that no dutiable commodities, whether imported or locally manufactured, are released for local consumption unless full duty has been paid.
Revenue Protection
In 2007, the department detected 5 906 cases of
of abuse of duty-free concessions, involving 2.25 million sticks of cigarettes, representing a decrease of 38 per cent and 21 per cent respectively compared with 2006.
In 2007, a total of 7 106 offenders were arrested and 119 million sticks of illicit cigarettes seized, a decrease of 34 per cent and an increase of 51 per cent respectively over 2006.
The department continued its commitment to stamping out transnational cigarette smuggling through cooperation with overseas customs administrations. In 2007, by monitoring suspicious shipments and through intelligence exchange, 105.4 million sticks of illicit cigarettes were seized in Europe, the United States and South America.
Due to high oil prices, illicit fuel activities involving marked oil, commonly known as 'red oil', and illicit motor spirit remained a concern. The department took sustained enforcement action to shut down illicit filling stations and clear illegal fuel offloading and storage spots. To deter the use of illicit fuel, the department launched a publicity campaign to warn drivers against using illicit fuel and conducted high- profile surprise checks on vehicle fuel tanks. Enforcement action was also stepped up at sea and at land boundaries to prevent the smuggling of illicit fuel.
In 2007, 841 offenders were arrested and 950 000 litres of illicit fuel seized. The amount of illicit oil seized in 2007 was about 6 per cent more than that of 2006.
Anti-narcotics Operations
The department continues to take vigorous enforcement action to prevent and suppress the unlawful manufacture, distribution and trafficking of dangerous drugs; to trace, confiscate and recover drug proceeds from illegal drug activities; and to prevent the diversion of chemicals used for the illicit manufacture of dangerous drugs. It also maintains close cooperation and exchange of intelligence with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking.
In 2007, the department dealt with 119 drug trafficking cases and neutralised five drug storage and distribution centres. It seized 26.7 kilogrammes of heroin, 26.3 kilogrammes of ketamine, 263 kilogrammes of cannabis, 182.4 kilogrammes of cocaine, 42 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, 2 427 tablets of MDMA (commonly known as 'ecstasy') and 27 032 tablets of other psychotropic drugs. A total of