On 19 July 2016, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) seized a total of 3,190 cartons and 1,512 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes in three separate checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint. The total potential customs duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) involved amounted to about S$259,280 and S$26,100 respectively.

Duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in wooden doors

2.     At about 4.15am, 2,508 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found after ICA officers directed a Malaysia-registered lorry, driven by a 32-year-old Malaysian male for further checks upon arrival. The driver was accompanied by a 23-year-old Malaysian male. The lorry was carrying a consignment declared to contain 40 pieces of large wooden doors, each measuring 80cm by 34cm. The duty-unpaid cigarettes were concealed inside 38 pieces of the large wooden doors. Both males, the seized exhibits and the lorry were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.

3.     The potential customs duty and GST of the duty-unpaid cigarettes amounted to about S$194,620 and S$19,590 respectively.

Duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed inside the consignment of large wooden doors.


2,508 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized by ICA officers.

Duty-unpaid cigarettes and controlled drugs found in various parts of car

4.     At about 5.30am, ICA officers found 439 cartons and 812 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes as well as a sachet suspected to contain controlled drugs in a Malaysia-registered car, driven by a lone 22-year-old Malaysian male upon arrival. The sachet of controlled drugs was recovered from the floor mat of the vehicle, while the duty-unpaid cigarettes were concealed in various parts of the car and inside the driver’s sling bag. The driver and the controlled drugs were referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for further investigations, while the car and the duty-unpaid cigarettes were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.

5.     The potential customs duty and GST of the duty-unpaid cigarettes amounted to about S$40,370 and S$4,060 respectively.

Duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the car’s modified bonnet.


Duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the car’s modified floorboard.

Duty-unpaid cigarettes seized from various parts of car

6.     About an hour later at 6.25am, 243 cartons and 700 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found in various parts of a Malaysia-registered car upon further inspection by ICA officers at the arrival car zone. The lone driver, a 22-year-old Malaysian male, the duty-unpaid cigarettes as well as the car were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.

7.     The potential customs duty and GST of the duty-unpaid cigarettes amounted to about S$24,290 and S$2,450 respectively.

Duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the car’s modified rear passenger seat.

 8.     All vehicles used in the commission of the offences in the three cases are liable to be forfeited.

9.     Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's safety and security. The security checks are critical to our nation’s security. We will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore.


IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
20 July 2016