Within a day, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) foiled two smuggling attempts of contraband cigarettes worth more than S$140,000 at the Woodlands Checkpoint. The same method of concealment could similarly be used to smuggle dangerous materials such as weapons or explosives into Singapore.

2          On 22 October 2015 at about 5.30am, a Malaysia-registered bus was directed for further checks upon arrival at the checkpoint. The vehicle was driven by a lone 44-year-old male.

3          Upon further inspection, the ICA officers uncovered a total of 995 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the modified air conditioner duct behind the overhead luggage compartment.   

4          On the same day at about 6.20pm, the ICA officers uncovered 224 cartons and 1261 packets of contraband cigarettes in various modified compartments of a Malaysia-registered car when it was directed for further checks upon arrival. The 53-year-old male driver was accompanied by a 58-year-old male passenger.

5          The total duty as well as Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to approximately S$104,380 and S$9,960 respectively. All the three Malaysians, exhibits and vehicles for both cases were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited.

6         Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The security checks are critical to our nation’s security.  The ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.  
 

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY

23 October 2015