A Malaysian couple's attempt to sneak out of Singapore went kaput when they were stopped in their tracks at Woodlands checkpoint on 18 Jan 06. They had tried to avoid detection by hiding in the boot of a car departing from Singapore. Two other Malaysians were also arrested for trying to ferry the couple out of the country.

2 On 18 Jan 06 at about 2055 hours, a Malaysian-registered car was stopped at the Departure Car Bay at Woodlands checkpoint for a routine check. The checkpoint officer noticed that the driver appeared nervous while his front-seat passenger looked very stiff. Two other checkpoint officers joined the first one to conduct a thorough search on the car and two persons – a man and a woman – were found in the car boot. All four persons were immediately placed under arrest, and the car was also seized.

3 Preliminary investigations revealed that the Malaysian couple was being investigated for drug abuse in Singapore and had their passports and work permits impounded. Another Malaysian man had offered to arrange for the couple to depart Singapore illegally by hiding them in a car boot. In return, they would have to pay him RM5,000 for the trip. The couple agreed and paid him the money. The Malaysian man in turn paid RM2,600 to a 22-year-old male Malaysian (the driver) to ferry the couple out of the country by hiding them in the car boot. The driver split the money with his accomplice (the front seat passenger), a 21-year-old male Malaysian.

4 Immigration & Checkpoints Authority takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners to enter or depart from Singapore illegally. Security checks on passengers and vehicles at all checkpoints have been stepped up. Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the smuggler faces a mandatory minimum jail term of 2 years plus a minimum of 3 strokes of the cane.