The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) yet again frustrated the plans of potential smugglers when it uncovered hundreds of cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes about to be brought into Singapore.
They were hidden in various compartments of a Malaysia-registered car, said ICA in a Facebook post on Tuesday (8 Sept).
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
On 18 Aug, the vehicle attempted to enter Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint, ICA said.
However, ICA Search & Examination officers directed it for enhanced checks.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
This was based on information obtained from ICA’s Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC).
ICA’s footage showed an officer opening a compartment in the floorboard of the car.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Another officer inspected the car’s undercarriage using a torchlight.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Cartons of cigarettes were seen being removed from a compartment.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Eventually, more than 460 cartons and 1,100 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found hidden within various compartments of the car, which had been modified, ICA said.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
A 20-year-old Malaysian man was subsequently arrested 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.
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: M’sian driver arrested after duty-unpaid cigarettes found in bonnet of car at Woodlands Checkpoint
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Featured image adapted from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook.