The man concealed animals in a modified vehicle compartment to smuggle them into Singapore, resulting in animal deaths.
SINGAPORE – A 25-year-old carpenter, Wong Cai Long, was sentenced to 40 weeks in jail after he was caught attempting to smuggle 13 animals – 10 puppies and three kittens – into Singapore. Wong hid the animals in a modified compartment under the rear passenger seat of his vehicle. The attempt was thwarted during a routine inspection at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 15, 2023.
Wong, who had accumulated a debt of RM$7,000 (S$2,000) from an unlicensed moneylender, was instructed by his “Boss” to smuggle animals into Singapore as a means of repaying his debt. He was promised $40 for each successful smuggling attempt. Wong had previously smuggled animals into the country on two occasions before his arrest.
The animals, confined in the cramped and poorly ventilated compartment, suffered greatly. Five of the puppies died within two weeks due to bacterial pneumonia, while the other animals tested positive for contagious viruses that caused gastrointestinal diseases. The conditions in which the animals were transported led to discomfort, restricted movement, and potential injuries from jostling.
Wong pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including the illegal importation of animals and subjecting them to unnecessary suffering. Authorities found that the animals were transported in inhumane conditions that resulted in significant distress and death.
