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No Secret Compartment is Secret
The term 'secret compartment' is fast turning out to be a misnomer, as far as ICA officers are concerned. You see, we have the radiographic scanners and fiberscope to detect such compartments in trucks and cars passing through our Land Checkpoints. We also have competent and experienced officers on the ground to look out for, and prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband by hiding them in secret compartments. A Malaysian truck driver's attempt to smuggle 2,299 cartons of cigarettes into Singapore was foiled when keen observation by our ICA officers led to the uncovering of a secret compartment in his covered truck.
2 On 25 Oct 04 at about 0850 hours, a covered (or bonded) truck coming into Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint was stopped for a routine check. The truck driven by a 44-year old Malaysian man was checked by ICA officers who observed that the inner length of the truck was much shorter than the outer length. Our officers' suspicions were aroused and a measurement of the two lengths confirmed that there was indeed a difference of two feet. The officers also noticed that the interior walls of the truck were covered by newly furnished plywood. Suspecting that there might be a secret compartment in the truck, they did a thorough search and discovered a false compartment between a layer of plywood and the driver's cabin of the truck.
3 Removing the plywood, ICA officers uncovered a fortified metal wall with no visible openings. The officers used a remote control device found on the male Malaysian's body and a clicking sound was heard. ICA officers quickly pulled the metal wall from its frame to reveal cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes stacked nicely. They also discovered that the metal wall was held tightly by four sets of magnetic locks. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was instructed to follow a Malaysian motorcyclist and his pillion rider to Singapore. The two Malaysian men, aged 29 and 22 were caught by ICA officers outside Tuas Checkpoint. The Goods & Services Tax (GST) and customs duties involved are S$9,000 and S$134,720 respectively. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If found guilty, the offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
5 ICA has 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
26 Oct 2004
2 On 25 Oct 04 at about 0850 hours, a covered (or bonded) truck coming into Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint was stopped for a routine check. The truck driven by a 44-year old Malaysian man was checked by ICA officers who observed that the inner length of the truck was much shorter than the outer length. Our officers' suspicions were aroused and a measurement of the two lengths confirmed that there was indeed a difference of two feet. The officers also noticed that the interior walls of the truck were covered by newly furnished plywood. Suspecting that there might be a secret compartment in the truck, they did a thorough search and discovered a false compartment between a layer of plywood and the driver's cabin of the truck.
3 Removing the plywood, ICA officers uncovered a fortified metal wall with no visible openings. The officers used a remote control device found on the male Malaysian's body and a clicking sound was heard. ICA officers quickly pulled the metal wall from its frame to reveal cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes stacked nicely. They also discovered that the metal wall was held tightly by four sets of magnetic locks. The driver was immediately placed under arrest and the vehicle seized.
4 Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver was instructed to follow a Malaysian motorcyclist and his pillion rider to Singapore. The two Malaysian men, aged 29 and 22 were caught by ICA officers outside Tuas Checkpoint. The Goods & Services Tax (GST) and customs duties involved are S$9,000 and S$134,720 respectively. The case has been referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation. If found guilty, the offenders could be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of customs duties and Goods & Services Tax involved.
5 ICA has 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
26 Oct 2004