First jail sentence imposed for illegally keeping animals in captivity for sale

Three individuals jailed for committing an offence under Section 48(1) of the Animals and Birds Act in past two months, among other offences

This affirms Singapore’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal trade and import of animals

Singapore, 15 September 2026 – Between August and September 2026, three individuals were jailed for animal smuggling-related offences. Among them was a 28-year-old woman, who was the first person in Singapore to receive a custodial sentence for keeping animals in captivity for sale at unlicensed premises – an offence under Section 48(1) of the Animals and Birds Act. In an unrelated case, a 33-year-old man was given the highest sentence to date of two weeks’ jail for a similar offence.

Husband and wife sentenced for illegal import of puppies and keeping them in captivity at unlicensed premises

The woman, Ng Siew Teng, and her husband Callurn Lim, 34, were arrested on 27 December 2023 for their involvement in a scheme to illegally import puppies from Malaysia for sale in Singapore. The scheme was uncovered when Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers found five smuggled puppies – two were in a pet carrier which was placed in a plastic storage container and three were outside of the carrier, during an inspection of their friend’s vehicle at Woodlands Checkpoint. 

Investigations by the National Parks Board (NParks) found that the couple had kept illicitly imported puppies at their residence, and profited approximately $21,000 from selling 21 puppies through Instagram.

Ng and Lim both pleaded guilty to five charges under the Animals and Birds Act, and were each sentenced to 19 weeks and three days' imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 on 5 August and 11 

September 2026 respectively. This includes a sentence of three days’ imprisonment and the maximum fine of $5,000 for the Section 48(1) charge.

Heaviest sentence meted out to date for keeping animals in captivity for sale at unlicensed premises

In a separate case, the third individual, 33-year-old Sundra Pandian, was found to have kept 13 smuggled animals at his residence. The animals were smuggled from Thailand through Malaysia by a transnational syndicate for sale in Singapore.

Pandian pleaded guilty to nine charges under the Animals and Birds Act, and was sentenced to 24 weeks' imprisonment on 17 August 2026. This includes a sentence of two weeks’ imprisonment for the Section 48(1) charge, which is the heaviest sentence meted out to date for keeping animals in captivity for sale at unlicensed premises. 

The case also involved 25-year-old Chow Chee Hoe, who had facilitated the sale of the smuggled animals by collecting the animals from Pandian and selling them to prospective buyers in Singapore. Chow pled guilty to one charge under the Animals and Birds (Licensing of Premises for Pet Shop and Other Purposes) Rules and was fined $4,000 on 1 September 2026.

In both cases, the smuggled animals were kept in poor conditions and subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering. Several of the dogs also tested positive for Canine Parvovirus – a highly contagious virus that commonly affects unvaccinated puppies.

Zero tolerance stance against animal smuggling

The sentences imposed by the Court underscore Singapore’s zero-tolerance stance on the illegal trade and import of animals. Offenders involved at every stage of the smuggling chain, regardless of their role, will be held accountable under the law.

For instance, the jail terms meted out for Ng and Lim reflect their active role in the sale of smuggled animals and the financial gains derived from the offence. Meanwhile, Pandian’s sentence takes into account his role in keeping the illicitly imported animals by a transnational syndicate for sale in his premises, and the planning and coordination involved in facilitating the smuggling operation.

NParks works closely with partner agencies to cross-share information to aid in the detection of cases, and carry out regular operations to strengthen surveillance and deterrence against animal smuggling at our checkpoints. In addition to border surveillance, NParks also regularly monitors physical and online marketplaces, and takes appropriate enforcement action against perpetrators.

Animal smuggling compromises animal health and welfare

Smuggled animals are often kept and transported in cramped, poorly ventilated conditions. In some cases, they are heavily sedated to minimise noise and movement to avoid detection by the authorities. Such conditions can cause poor health, injury and even death.

Animal smuggling also poses broader risks to public health and safety. Smuggled animals may carry infectious and contagious diseases contracted at their place of origin or from other animals during transit. These diseases can threaten native wildlife, pets and humans.

Public can curb demand for smuggled animals

NParks strongly encourages prospective pet owners to adopt their pets from animal groups or to purchase their pets from licensed pet shops. They should not purchase pets from unlicensed sellers operating on social media or online platforms, as the health status of these animals may be unknown. Furthermore, such animals may not have been bred in accordance with the animal health and care standards imposed by NParks on licensed breeders and pet shops.

Pet owners, businesses and the public all have a shared responsibility to safeguard animal health and welfare, by not contributing to the demand for illegally imported animals. Buyers who abet the illicit import of their pets into Singapore may be prosecuted.

Members of the public with information on suspected poaching, smuggling or illegal trade of pet animals and wildlife can contact NParks at www.avs.gov.sg/feedback or call our Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

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Case involving Ng Siew Teng and Callurn Lim

On 27 December 2023, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint conducted a random inspection on a Singapore-registered vehicle driven by Bryan Peh, a 23-year-old male Singaporean. The officers detected five two-month-old Pomeranian puppies concealed in the boot of the vehicle. Two puppies were found inside a pet carrier, which was placed within a plastic storage container that contained the other three puppies. The case was subsequently referred to NParks for further investigation.

Investigations revealed that Peh had been abetted by Ng and Lim to smuggle puppies from Malaysia for sale in Singapore. Ng and Lim kept the puppies in their residence and advertised them on Instagram. The couple also held viewings of the puppies at the void deck with prospective customers. Between October and December 2023, they sold 21 puppies and earned approximately $21,000 in profits.

Examinations by NParks found that the five smuggled puppies had been transported in cramped and poorly ventilated conditions that subjected them to unnecessary suffering. All five puppies subsequently tested positive for Canine Parvovirus, a highly contagious disease that can cause severe illness and death in dogs.

On 16 January 2026, Peh was convicted on three charges under Section 8(1)[1] and one charge under Section 41C(1)(a)(iii)[2] of the Animals and Birds Act, and was sentenced to 16 weeks’ imprisonment.

Ng and Lim both pleaded guilty to five charges under the Animals and Birds Act, and were each sentenced to 19 weeks and three days' imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 on 5 August and 11 September 2026 respectively. This includes a sentence of three days’ imprisonment and the maximum fine of $5,000 for the Section 48(1) charge.

Case involving Sundra Pandian and Chow Chee Hoe

On 26 September 2025, following a tip-off from a member of public regarding the sale of illegally imported animals, officers from the Animal and Veterinary Service – a cluster under the National Parks Board – arrested Chow for attempting to sell two smuggled dogs.

Investigations found that Chow had been using several premises as a pet shop to sell dogs on behalf of a transnational syndicate that smuggled animals from Thailand into Singapore. He would collect these animals from Pandian before meeting with prospective buyers. Pandian acted as a runner for the syndicate by bringing the smuggled animals to his premises for sale after they entered Singapore, and keeping them at his residence until buyers were found.

An inspection was conducted at Pandian’s residence and 14 animals were seized. The animals comprised 12 dogs of various breeds, including Pandian’s pet Rottweiler, as well as two British Shorthair cats.

The animals were housed in cages and pet carriers stacked up to three levels high within the service yard for approximately two to three weeks at a time, and were let out only for short periods for exercise or to clean the cages. Several animals were confined in conditions that restricted their movement and subjected them to unnecessary suffering. One dog tested positive for Canine Parvovirus, while some of the animals required veterinary treatment after showing signs of ill health.

Pandian pleaded guilty to nine charges under the Animals and Birds Act, and was sentenced to 24 weeks' imprisonment on 17 August 2026. This includes a sentence of two weeks’ imprisonment for the Section 48(1) charge. Chow pleaded guilty to one charge under the Animals and Birds (Licensing of Premises for Pet Shop and Other Purposes) Rules and was fined $4,000 on 1 September 2026.