Over 980 cartons of cigarettes found hidden in floorboard of M’sia-registered truck
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has yet again floored potential smugglers when it uncovered hundreds of cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes about to be brought into Singapore.
They were hidden in the floorboard of a Malaysia-registered truck, said ICA in a Facebook post on Wednesday (11 Nov).
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Truck directed for enhanced checks at Tuas Checkpoint
On 16 Oct, the truck attempted to enter Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint, ICA said.
However, it was directed for enhanced checks.
This came after an ICA image analyst noticed anomalies in the scanned image.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Truck floorboard modified to fit contraband cigarettes
ICA’s video showed search and examination officers taking apart steps that were attached to the truck’s rear container section.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
This revealed several packets of cigarettes with gold and red packaging that were inserted into a narrow opening behind the steps.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
They then used lashing straps to remove the cartons from inside the truck.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Eventually, officers found more than 980 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden within the truck’s floorboard, which had been modified for the purpose.
39-year-old M’sian driver arrested
The authorities subsequently arrested the driver, a 39-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 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.
Also read: Duty-unpaid cigarettes found in compartments of car at Woodlands Checkpoint, M’sian driver arrested
Duty-unpaid cigarettes found in compartments of car at Woodlands Checkpoint, M’sian driver arrested
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Featured image adapted from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook.
