Copyright Act 2021 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 6 · Remedies for and Border Enforcement Measures Against Rights Infringements
363. Search of travellers and baggage
Feedback & supportThis section applies to a person (called in this section a traveller) —
who is landing, is about to land, or has recently landed, from any vessel or aircraft;
who is leaving any vessel or aircraft in Singapore (whether to land or for any other purpose); or
who is entering or has recently entered Singapore by land, sea or air.
A customs officer (not being a senior customs officer) may demand that —
the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched by the officer for any seizable goods; or
the traveller —
goes, together with the traveller’s goods, to a police station or an examination station; and
permits his or her person and goods to be searched there, in the presence and under the supervision of a senior customs officer, for seizable goods.
A senior customs officer may demand that —
the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched by the officer for any seizable goods; or
the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched, in the presence and under the supervision of the officer, for any seizable goods.
A woman must not be searched under this section except by a woman and with strict regard to decency.
If a traveller requests to be present when his or her goods are searched, the goods may not be searched unless —
the traveller is present; or
the traveller is absent despite being given a reasonable facility to be present.
A traveller who refuses to comply with a demand under this section may be arrested without warrant by the officer making the demand.
In this section, “goods” includes baggage.