Contraband cigarettes detected at Singapore's land checkpoints

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) had detected two attempts to smuggle more than 3,750 cartons of contraband cigarettes into Singapore through the land checkpoints over the past four days.

In a statement on Monday, ICA said the potential duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded for the two cases amounted to about S$319,020 (S$1=RM3.05) and S$29,630 respectively.

"Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The security checks are critical to our nation’s security.

"The ICA 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," it said.

ICA noted that the same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers might be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore.

The authority said that the first attempt was on the first day of 2016.

A Malaysia-registered lorry declared to be carrying frozen vegetarian products was directed for further checks upon arrival at Woodlands checkpoint after officers observed anomalies in the scanned images.

Upon inspection, the ICA officers detected contraband cigarettes hidden within the consignment.

A total of 2,600 cartons of contraband cigarettes were recovered from the lorry which was driven by a 35-year-old male Malaysian, it said.

The second attempt was today whereby a Malaysia-registered bus was directed for checks on arrival at Tuas checkpoint.

Upon further inspection, officers detected contraband cigarettes hidden beneath the bus and another built in between two front wheels of the vehicle.

A total of 1,151 cartons of contraband cigarettes were recovered from the bus which was driven by a 44-year-old male Malaysian.

Both subjects, the seized cigarettes and vehicles were handed over to Singapore Customs for investigations.

The vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited, ICA said.