Biometric database leads to immigration arrests

A biometric database enabled authorities to arrest 1,600 immigration offenders at Singapore checkpoints last year, a 167% increase from 2004, officials said Wednesday.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the system captures the biometric details of former offenders who had previously been arrested in the city-state and repatriated back to their home countries. Only 600 such offenders were arrested in 2004.

About 4,500 undocumented immigrants were also nabbed last year, down 15% from the year before.

Turning to other offences committed at checkpoints, the ICA saw a 67% increase in illegal disc smuggling with a total of 500 cases detected.

The ICA also reported a 7% drop in the number of contraband-smuggling cases to 17,000.

But officials foiled more attempts by smugglers to bring in cigarettes illegally.

The ICA said 7,100 cases were found in 2005, 9% more than in 2004.

The number of cigarette packets seized soared by 170% to 357,200.