SINGAPORE: Thousands of sachets of chewing tobacco and more than 1,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes were seized at Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) here the other day.
On Saturday at about 5.45am, ICA said its officers conducted a check on a Malaysia-registered trailer when it drove up at the Tuas Checkpoint. The trailer was driven by a 46-year-old Malaysian man, and he was conveying pre-cast concrete.
A thorough search of the trailer was conducted and “two big black trash bags” concealed in the tool storage compartment were uncovered.
“The bags contained 8,220 sachets of ‘Hans Chhap’ chewing tobacco,” said ICA. “The potential duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the duty-unpaid chewing tobacco amounted to about S$22,120 and S$1,540, respectively.”
ICA added that less than an hour later at about 6.15am, a 42-year-old Malaysian man driving a lorry was checked by ICA officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint. Anomalies were discovered in the scanned image and the further inspection was conducted on the Malaysia-registered vehicle.
The consignment was declared to be rear seat cushions and vehicle seats, but after checks were conducted, 1,549 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in sealed packages were discovered to be surrounded by the consignment. The duty and GST of the duty unpaid cigarettes amounted to about S$120,200 and S$11,470, respectively, said ICA.
The drivers, exhibits and vehicles for both cases were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The two vehicles are also liable to be forfeited.
Investigations are still ongoing, ICA said.
