It was a sultry afternoon on 1 August 2005 at about 3.10pm, when two officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) flagged down a Malaysian-registered lorry for a routine check.

2. The papers produced by the driver stated that he was carrying a consignment of speaker boxes. But with the officers' experience in investigating the shady world of smuggling, they knew that things are not always what they seem. The officers checked on the goods. Although nothing incriminating was found, they did not stop there.

3. The ICA officers then proceeded to check the driver's cabin. In the course of the check, the officers noticed that the mattress at the back of the driver's seat was heavier than normal. When they lifted the covers, the illicit stash was found. Some 200 cartons containing 200 sticks of cigarettes in each box were found hidden in the mattress. The total estimated duty and GST payable for the cigarettes are S$14,080 and S$900 respectively.

4. The 39-year-old driver claimed that he was promised a sum of RM800 if he was successful in smuggling the cigarettes into Singapore.

5. The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If found guilty, the offender could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.

6. As our country's first line of defence against terrorist threats, ICA has a duty to ensure the security and safety of Singapore. We have tightened our 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 advise the public against smuggling unlawful goods into Singapore.

END OF NEWS RELEASE

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
3 August 2005