No, we are not talking about Brandon Routh's famous package in the yet-to-be-shown 'Superman Returns'. We are referring to a Singaporean man who had tried to smuggle cannabis and cigarettes by hiding them in his trousers pockets. And unlike the Man of Steel who might have his bulge reduced digitally, the smuggler's bulge was reduced considerably when his pockets were emptied.

2 On 3 Jan 06 at about 2250 hours, ICA officers stopped and conducted a check on the Singapore-registered car driven by the smuggler at Woodlands Checkpoint. The 45-year-old Malay driver was accompanied by a Singaporean Indian man in his car. The Malay driver appeared very nervous as our officers checked him and his vehicle assiduously. In the course of the search, our officers found a packet of brownish substance wrapped in aluminium foil and secured with masking tape. The substance was suspected to be cannabis. 34 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found in his trousers pockets and another two packets x 12 sticks of cigarettes in the car door panel. The vehicle was seized and the driver was immediately arrested. He and his vehicle were put through further checks but nothing incriminating was found.

3 The case was referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for investigation for the offence of importation of a controlled drug. If convicted, he will face a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment and five strokes of the cane.

4 In view of the current global situation, enforcement agencies at all entry and exit points are working closely together to step up security inspections of all persons, goods and vehicles entering or leaving Singapore. As a result, drug traffickers can also expect to face a heightened gauntlet of security checks and measures at our entry and exit points