ICA Finds Duty-Unpaid Cigarettes Hidden In Watermelon Crates, Efforts To Stop Smugglers Were Fruitful

ICA Officers Discover Duty-Unpaid Cigarettes In Watermelon Crates

Fresh watermelons are refreshing fruits we often enjoy in Singapore’s humidity. Though usually harmless, they became the unlikely vehicle for a crime recently.

On Wednesday (12 Jan), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) shared smugglers’ failed attempt to get duty-unpaid cigarettes onto our shores.

Source

While the smugglers probably thought their efforts would be fruitful, the guardians of our borders clearly proved them wrong.

ICA finds duty-unpaid cigarettes in watermelon crates

On Saturday (8 Jan), ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint noticed anomalies in the scanned images of a Malaysian-registered lorry.

Source

Further investigation led them to find duty-unpaid cigarettes that the smugglers had hidden in some watermelon crates.

Source

Officers reportedly found a total of 1,838 cartons and 703 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes.

Source

 

The ICA has since referred the case to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.

ICA worried over similar concealment methods

Taking the opportunity to explain the nature of their job, the ICA explained that protecting Singapore’s borders is their ultimate priority.

Part of doing that is being wary of such concealment methods that terrorists could adopt to bring security items illegally into Singapore.

As ICA put it, “not in a melon years” will these smugglers get past them.

Netizens praise ICA for fruitful efforts

Netizens praised ICA for a job well done in the comments.

One commenter joked that their efforts were fruitful, which was a very witty pun.

Source

Another joked that prices of watermelons might soar as the smugglers would have to pay a high price for their crime.

Source

More importantly, many like this commenter thanked the officers for successfully catching the smugglers.

Source

Hope incident will deter smugglers

Our discerning officers have foiled numerous attempts to smuggle contraband goods.

This incident proves for the umpteenth time that indeed, no crime like this can get past them.

Hopefully, such a record will deter other smugglers from making similar attempts in the future.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook

Monique Danao

When Monique's not writing, you'll find her enjoying funky food, listening to music and playing RPGs.

Recent Posts

Teen injured in Thailand accident asks for his lost shoes, says they were gift from girlfriend

Rescue personnel successfully found the shoes before sending him to the hospital.

19 Dec 2024, 6:03 pm

Huat ah! Yishun coffeeshop uncle wins S$8,888 from lucky Tiger Beer bottlecap

Crack open a cold one for a chance to win up to S$88,888.

19 Dec 2024, 5:50 pm

Crocodile kills woman in Indonesia after she dips her feet in water, drags her body under

Locals chucked dead chickens at the croc to get it to free the woman.

19 Dec 2024, 5:12 pm

Idol in China falls into coma due to lung cancer, father seeks financial support on social media

The same illness took his mother's life six years ago.

19 Dec 2024, 4:58 pm

Man in India swallows live chick in alleged ritual to have child, dies from suffocation

Locals believe the man was in contact with an occultist due to his struggle with…

19 Dec 2024, 4:46 pm

Thieves steal oxygen pipe from India hospital, 12 newborns nearly lose their lives

Medical staff quickly restored backup oxygen to save their lives.

19 Dec 2024, 3:43 pm