Customs Act 1960 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 13 · Search, Seizure and Arrest
109. Search of persons arriving in Singapore
Feedback & supportSubject to this section, any person landing, or being about to land, or having recently landed, from any vessel or aircraft, or leaving any vessel or aircraft in the territorial waters of Singapore, whether for the purpose of landing or otherwise, or entering or having recently entered Singapore by road or rail must, on demand by any proper officer of customs —
aircraft
“aircraft” includes any kind of craft which may be used for the conveyance of passengers or goods by air;
permit his or her person, goods and baggage to be searched by the officer; or
together with the goods and baggage accompany the officer to a customs office or customs station or police station and there permit his or her person, goods and baggage to be searched by an officer of customs.
Any person who requests that his or her person be searched in the presence of a senior officer of customs must not be searched except in the presence of and under the supervision of that officer, but the person may be detained until the arrival of that officer, or taken to any customs office or customs station or police station where that officer may be found.
senior officer of customs
“senior officer of customs” means —(a)the Director‑General;(b)any Deputy Director‑General of Customs or Assistant Director‑General of Customs appointed under section 4(2);(c)any senior officer of customs appointed under section 4(4);(d)any officer of customs conferred with the powers of a senior officer of customs under section 5(3); and(e)any police officer having the powers of a senior officer of customs by virtue of section 7(a);
The goods and baggage of any person who requests to be present when they are searched and so presents himself or herself within a reasonable time must not be searched except in his or her presence.
goods
“goods” includes animals, birds, fish, plants and all kinds of movable property;
A woman must not be searched except by a woman.