“We’re not the only ones” – SG Family Detained at Changi Airport for Carrying Water Guns from Songkran Festival

If you’re traveling abroad, there are possibly some things in your luggage that won’t pass through the security check.

A Singaporean woman and her family were recently detained at the Changi airport after the security personnel found a controlled item in 1 of their luggage – a water gun. In a TikTok video by @fairyfitmama, Lalitha explained the nature of the water gun and the procedure that took place before they were allowed to leave the airport.

In her video, Lalitha said she had just come back from Thailand where the family participated in the splashing Songkran festival. During the annual Thai festival, she got her kids the water gun which they used to play at the Songkran festival, and brought it back to Singapore.

The water guns, which were listed as controlled items, were seized by customs per Section 35(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Lalitha’s Australian husband was then asked to follow the officers into a room where others with a similar fate gathered.

“He was not allowed to leave until he answered all questions. Why was he in Singapore, where’s his PR status, and signed a document.”

Lalitha added that her husband was only allowed to leave the room after he signed a document from the Singapore Police Force acknowledging that he brought a controlled item into Singapore. Surprisingly, Lalitha’s family and those in the room were not the only ones detained.

1 of the officers revealed they had detained many families who came back from the Songkran festival for a similar issue.

In a conversation with WORLD OF BUZZ, Lalitha said she was in no way accusing the officers of any wrongdoings. The posted video was merely an awareness to those who are not clear about the procedure.

“I wanted to spread an awareness about this law so others will not go through what my family had to go through,” she told WORLD OF BUZZ.

Lalitha also said she convinced the officers multiple times that they were merely toy guns but 1 of them said, “They can be modified”.

In her post, Lalitha also wrote that she wished she had known this in advance, which would save her a lot of time and trouble.

Some countries can be strict with their immigration laws. To those who are planning to participate in the Songkran festival in the future, especially if you’re a first-timer, this is something you might want to look out for.

Also read: M’sian Students Must Have RM93K of Savings to Get a Visa in Australia, Marks 2nd Increase in Just 7 Months