On-arrival security checks in Singapore?
 

Flying recently DPS-SIN-BNE, on arrival into Singapore we were escorted to a security checkpoint set up in one of the piers. Had to clear this checkpoint before being allowed to proceed through the terminal.

I've seen these checkpoints at SIN before, but never really thought about them until I had to go through one. What are they for? SIN does security screening as you enter the gate holding room, so disembarking passengers enter the airport in a non-sterile area. Why the need to scan people from certain flights?

I know DPS used to be on a list of airports not meeting certain security standards, but (i) thought they'd fixed that, and (ii) can't figure out what they're looking for *after* the flight.

Drugs. Or chewing gum.

Drugs mostly when they do an on-arrival check. Sometimes it's to net people on invalid or inappropriate travel documents or some concern about terrorism.

At SIN the standard is usually to just do an on-departure boarding gate-area security check -- so ordinarily there is no security check until you go to make an onward connection and reach your departure gate. As noted in the prior response, however, sometimes it's just chewing gum.

On arrival checks are done to flights that usually arrive from areas such as DPS, CGK, BKK etc. Usually it's for drugs. The chewing gum ban has hardly ever been put into force IME. (I once chewed gum upon arrival, through immigration and customs and nobody raised an eyebrow).

Several countries have similar set-ups. Not so much security as contraband. I think in Australia they have checkpoints for fruit and plants.

They're serious: NO Durians. :D

No this is different. At SIN most flights arrive and you are directly on the concourse mingling with departing pax - you then head to immigration, or get rescreened at gate of your onward flight. Some flights (a % of the ones from BKK, CGK, etc) get rescreened on arrival before you enter the concourse.

Screening for biosecurity at Australia, New Zealand, and some other countries, happens for ALL arriving international passengers just past immigration.

The distinction is the SIN checks are your carry-ons only, whereas for Australia/NZ/etc it is both carry-ons and checked luggage. I suppose at SIN your pockets are also checked if you trigger the WTMD but you could in theory smuggle stuff through in your pockets or elsewhere on your body.

This is nothing new. I always figured they just don't trust the security of some foreign airports. They smile while they do it and clear a flight quickly so it really doesn't bother me much. It's their country.