SINGAPORE – A sizeable haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes was seized from a Singapore-registered car at Woodlands Checkpoint on Friday (April 7), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a press release.
The car was stopped by ICA officers upon its arrival at the checkpoint at about 3.30pm, and directed for further checks.
Cigarettes were subsequently found hidden in several locations, including the car’s engine compartment, front and rear bumpers, dashboard and rear door panels.
The 44-year-old male Singaporean driver, along with the vehicle, were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
ICA said a total of 322 cartons and 879 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.
The potential duty and Goods and Services Tax of the haul amounted to about $34,360 and $2,530 respectively.
In its press release on Tuesday, ICA reiterated its commitment to conducting 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,” it added.