Measures to identify and prevent prohibited or undesirable travellers from entering Singapore

Question:

Ms Diana Pang Li Yen: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what screening and intelligence-led measures are used to identify visa-exempt visitors who may intend to engage in vice-related activities; (b) how do authorities detect repeat visits or successive arrivals by persons linked to the same vice operation; and (c) whether no-boarding directives, entry restrictions or other safeguards will be strengthened to prevent such persons from entering Singapore.

Answer:

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

1. Sir, Singapore adopts a risk-based, multi-layered approach to identify travellers who may intend to engage in unlawful activities, including vice. ICA leverages data analytics to conduct pre-arrival risk assessments using advance passenger information, intelligence, watchlists and other available information to identify travellers of interest or other factors, such as patterns of travel, that may warrant further scrutiny. Travellers arriving at our checkpoints who are assessed or profiled to present a higher risk will also be subjected to further interviews and checks, before ICA determines whether to grant them entry.

2. ICA continually reviews and strengthens its border security capabilities to address evolving threats, including those posed by transnational vice syndicates. In January this year, ICA introduced a new upstream measure by issuing No-Boarding Directive (NBD) notices to airlines operators at Changi and Seletar Airports, which requires the operators to prevent persons identified as prohibited or undesirable travellers from boarding flights inbound for Singapore. NBD notices may be used across a range of cases involving identified prohibited or undesirable persons, including those who are engaged in vice-related activities.