Over 800 cartons of cigarettes found hidden under baskets of vegetables in M’sia-registered lorry
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has again put potential smugglers in a pickle when it uncovered cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes about to be brought into Singapore.
They were found hidden under vegetables in a Malaysia-registered lorry, said ICA in a Facebook post on Tuesday (27 Oct).
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Lorry directed for enhanced checks at Woodlands Checkpoint
On 8 Oct, the lorry attempted to enter Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint, ICA said.
However, an ICA image analyst detected anomalies in the scanned images of the vehicle.
It was thus directed for enhanced checks.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Cigarettes found in consignment of ‘vegetables’ in lorry
The inspection turned up more than 800 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes.
They were found in white trash bags, hidden under baskets of vegetables.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
The consignment was declared as “assorted vegetables”, ICA said.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
33-year-old M’sian man arrested
The authorities subsequently arrested the driver, a 33-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 its post, ICA affirmed its mission as “Guardians of Our Borders” 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.
