4,500 cartons of cigarettes found under concrete piles on M’sia-registered lorry
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has once again piled pressure on potential smugglers when it uncovered hundreds of cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes about to be brought into Singapore.
They were found hidden under concrete piles on a Malaysia-registered lorry, said ICA in a Facebook post on Tuesday (15 Sept).
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Lorry directed for enhanced checks at Tuas Checkpoint
On 4 Sept, the lorry attempted to enter Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint, ICA said.
However, ICA officers directed it for enhanced checks.
This was because they had detected anomalies in the screened images.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
ICA officers pull out cigarette cartons under concrete piles
In footage posted by ICA, its search and examination officers were seen peering into the lorry through gaps in its side.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
They then lashed straps to it and fished out several boxes wrapped in black plastic.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Eventually, a total of 4,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found concealed under a consignment of concrete piles.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
26-year-old M’sian man arrested
The authorities subsequently arrested a 26-year-old Malaysian man in connection with the suspected attempt to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore.
Both the items and the man were referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
In the Facebook post, ICA affirmed its mission to facilitate trade and travel while keeping Singapore’s borders safe and secure.
Offence to import duty-unpaid cigarettes
Under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing, or dealing in duty-unpaid cigarettes are serious offences.
Those convicted of offences involving duty-unpaid goods can be fined up to 40 times the amount of tax evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.
In February, ICA noted a significant increase in contraband smuggling attempts in its Annual Statistics for 2025.
The authorities foiled 57,400 such cases last year — a 30.6% jump from the 43,900 in 2024.
Several cases involved the smuggling of contraband cigarettes in cars with modified compartments or concealed among other goods in lorries, it added.
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Featured image adapted from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook.
