Fewer people caught for immigration offences in 2014: ICA

SINGAPORE — Fewer people were caught breaking immigration laws in Singapore last year, according to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) 2014 statistics.

The total number of immigration offenders arrested last year decreased by 19 per cent to 2,040 from 2013’s 2,530, said the ICA in a news release today (Jan 27).

The number of illegal immigrants arrested fell by almost half, from 600 to 350, while the number of overstayers arrested fell by 12 per cent, from 1,930 to 1,690, said the ICA.

However, the number of people arrested for harbouring illegal immigrants last year went up by 7 per cent, while the number of employers caught for hiring illegal workers fell by 29 per cent as compared to 2013.

Fewer couples were also caught for marrying to obtain immigration documents in Singapore. Last year, 170 people were convicted of marriages of convenience — a drop of 40 per cent as compared to 2013, said ICA.

The number of contraband cases detected at Singapore’s checkpoints also fell — from 99,700 in 2013 to 93,380 last year, according to the news release. However, ICA warned that some buyers have been using online shopping platforms to purchase prohibited or controlled items and having them mailed to evade detection. CHANNEL NEWSASIA