SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint successfully foiled two attempts to smuggle non-duty paid cigarettes as well as chewing tobacco.
A total of 6,470 cartons of non-duty paid cigarettes and 74,940 sachets of chewing tobacco, weighing approximately 750 kilogram, were seized, said ICA in a statement.
The first attempt took place on April 21 when ICA officers directed an arriving Malaysia-registered lorry, driven by a 47-year-old Malaysian, for further checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint.
ICA officers found 3,448 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 74,940 sachets of chewing tobacco, weighing approximately 750 kilogram concealed among a consignment declared as wardrobe sets.
The second attempt was on April 22 after ICA officers detected 3,022 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed among a consignment declared as wheat grain and food grade bran when they conducted checks on an arriving Malaysia-registered lorry at the same checkpoint.
The import and sale of chewing tobacco is prohibited in Singapore.
The prohibited chewing tobacco seized in the first case was handed over to the Health Sciences Authority for investigation.
ICA said the total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded for the cigarettes in both cases amounted to about S$502,070 (RM1.56mil) and S$37,210 (RM115,851) respectively.
The men and vehicles were handed over to Singapore Customs.
Investigations against both men are ongoing while the vehicles used are liable to be forfeited.
