A Malaysian man found out that smuggling ICE was a heart-stopping experience - it made him break out in cold sweat and landed him in hot soup with our vigilant ICA officers at Woodlands Checkpoint.

2 On 1 Oct 05 at about 2010 hours, ICA officers stopped and conducted a check on a Malaysian-registered car at Woodlands Checkpoint. The 21-year-old driver, a Malaysian Chinese appeared very nervous as our officers checked him and his vehicle assiduously. In the course of the search, our officers found two packets of instant soup tucked under the floor mat of the driver seat. Could these have been the remains of a quick meal? Our officer obviously did not think so, and proceeded to examine the contents of the soup packets. He found in the instant soup packets white crystalline powder suspected to be ICE, a controlled drug listed under the Misuse of Drug Act. The white crystalline powder in the two packets weighed a total of 110g. 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 CNB 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

END OF NEWS RELEASE

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
3 Oct 2005