On 19 March 2017 at about 10pm, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) directed a Malaysia-registered bus, driven by a lone 24-year-old male Malaysian, for further checks upon its arrival at Tuas checkpoint.

2.     During the course of checks, ICA officers found duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modified air-con duct, roof luggage compartment and roof compartment of the bus. The driver, the exhibits and the bus were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations.

3.     A total of 2,041 cartons and 60 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized. The potential duty as well as Goods and Services Tax of the duty-unpaid cigarettes evaded amounted to about S$158,840 and S$11,770 respectively. The vehicle used in the commission of such offences is liable to be forfeited.

4.     Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's safety and security. The security checks are critical to our nation’s security. We 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. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
21 MARCH 2017

ICA Photos


The innocuous bus with duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in various modified compartments


Duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modified air-con duct


Duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modified luggage compartment


Duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modified roof compartment of the bus


Total exhibits seized by ICA officers