The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) thwarted the plans of potential smugglers when it recently uncovered more than 500 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes about to be brought into Singapore.
They were hidden under the seat of a Malaysia-registered motorcycle, said ICA in a Facebook post on Friday (17 July).
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
On 7 July, the motorcycle attempted to enter Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint, ICA said.
However, ICA Search & Examination officers directed it for enhanced checks.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
Officers found the duty-unpaid cigarettes in a compartment under the motorcycle seat, which the suspect had allegedly modified to conceal them.
Source: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook
The motorcyclist, a 27-year-old Malaysian man, was arrested on suspicion of attempting 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: Duty-unpaid cigarettes found in engine compartment of M’sia-registered bus, M’sian driver arrested
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Featured image adapted from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Facebook.