Secret compartments were the order of the day as officers deployed at the land checkpoints detected the compartments in three vehicles in separate incidents over the weekend. In the first case, approximately 40kg of liquor were found in a specially modified fuel tank. For the second case at Woodlands checkpoint, about 100 cartons of contraband cigarettes were found in secret compartments in the glove compartment and rear passenger seat of the car. In the third case at Tuas checkpoint, 111 cartons of cigarettes were found also in the glove compartment and rear passenger seat.

Strike 1 - You can get intoxicated if you take a sip from this car's fuel tank.

2 You would expect your beer to flow from a barrel, and your wine from a bottle. But no, ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint witnessed a surreal sight on 25 Mar 06 when they saw liquor flowing from the fuel tank of a Malaysia-registered car. The officers had earlier directed the vehicle driven by a Malaysian for a check. During the check, our sharp-nosed officers detected a strong smell coming from the vehicle. In the course of their search, they found an unusually big screw underneath the fuel tank. Some liquid flowed out when the screw was loosened. The liquid was suspected to be intoxicating liquor based on the strong alcoholic smell.

3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the 26-year-old Malaysian driver had been approached with an offer of RM200 to drive the vehicle pre-loaded with the liquid into Singapore. The liquid was subsequently drained from the modified fuel tank and filled up two jerry cans of 20 litres capacity each.

Strike 2 - You can't hide your secret cigarettes at Woodlands

4 On 27 Mar 2006, at about 0800 hrs, checkpoint officers at Woodlands stopped a blue Malaysia-registered Volvo arriving in Singapore for a routine check. In the course of their search, the officers found secret compartments in the glove compartment and behind the rear passenger seat. Hidden in the glove compartment were 39 cartons x 200 sticks of duty unpaid cigarettes. Another 56 cartons x 200 sticks and 50 packets x 20 sticks of cigarettes were found in the secret compartment in the rear passenger seat.

5 The driver, a 23-year-old Chinese male Malaysian, admitted knowledge of the hidden cigarettes. He revealed that he was approached and promised RM500 to deliver the cigarettes into Singapore. The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved is estimated to be S$7,040 and S$450 respectively.

Strike 3 - You can't do so at Tuas either

6 At around the same time as the blue Volvo was stopped in Woodlands, another gold-coloured Mercedes was stopped at Tuas for a routine check. The officer interviewing the driver noticed his nervousness. He proceeded to conduct a thorough check and found a total of 111 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes in secret compartments within the glove compartment and rear passenger seat.

7 The driver, a 56-year-old Chinese male Malaysian was approached to smuggle the cigarettes into Singapore. He was promised RM300 for every successful delivery. The total amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved is estimated to be S$7,810 and S$500 respectively.

8 The three cases were referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. Upon conviction by the court, first time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded. Upon conviction by the court, first time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded. For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be jailed for up to two years, as well as being fined.

9 ICA has tightened security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband. We would like to warn the public to think twice before they attempt to smuggle unlawful goods illegally into Singapore as our officers at the checkpoints maintain a high level of vigilance at all times and are trained to profile potential offenders.