SINGAPORE – A total of 3,190 cartons and 1,512 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in three separate checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Tuesday (July 19), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced on Wednesday (July 20).
The total potential customs duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) involved amounted to about $259,280 and $26,100 respectively.
The first check occured at about 4.15am and involved a lorry. Officers uncovered 2,508 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in 38 pieces of large wooden doors.
At 5.30am, ICA officers seized 439 cartons and 812 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes as well as a sachet suspected to contain controlled drugs in a Malaysia-registered car.
The sachet of controlled drugs was recovered from the floor mat of the vehicle, while the duty-unpaid cigarettes were concealed in various parts of the car and inside the driver’s sling bag.
About an hour later at 6.25am, officers seized 43 cartons and 700 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes from various parts of a Malaysia-registered car.
Investigations are ongoing for all three cases.
debwong@sph.com.sg
