SINGAPORE: A 24-year-old Malaysian man tried to smuggle more than 2,000 cartons of non-duty paid cigarettes in a Malaysian-registered bus he was driving on Sunday night.
Officers had directed the bus for further checks upon its arrival at Tuas Checkpoint and during the course of checks, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers found a total of 2,041 cartons and 60 packets of contraband cigarettes concealed in a modified air-con duct, a modified luggage compartment, and the roof compartment of the bus, ICA said in a statement.
The Malaysian driver, seized items and the bus were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The vehicle used in the commission of such offences is also liable to be forfeited.
According to the ICA, the potential duty as well as Goods and Services Tax of the duty-unpaid cigarettes evaded amounted to about S$158,840 (RM502,648) and S$11,770, respectively.
