SINGAPORE : More than 2,000 cartons of duty-unpaid
cigarettes were found hidden in the secret compartment of a
Malaysia-registered factory bus entering Singapore on Monday
morning.
The bus was stopped at the Woodlands Checkpoint at about 5.10am for
further checks, after a preliminary inspection by Immigration and
Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers found it to be
suspicious.
A thorough check followed and more than 2,000 cartons of contraband
cigarettes, each containing 200 sticks, were found beneath the
floorboard of the bus.
The total customs and GST payable amounted to S$156,000.
The driver, a 35-year-old Malaysian, has been referred to the
Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Just 24 hours earlier, another Malaysia-registered bus attempted to
smuggle 400 cartons of contraband cigarettes using the same
method.
The cigarettes, also found hidden under the floorboard, were
estimated to cost S$30,000 in customs duty and GST.
On questioning, the 32-year-old bus driver said he was paid RM500
to deliver them.
An hour later, that same morning, a Malaysia-registered car was
stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint for further checks by ICA
officers.
On being told to open his car's bonnet, the 22-year-old Malaysian
driver panicked and dashed towards the checkpoint exit.
Checkpoint officers gave chase and intercepted him.
240 cartons of contraband cigarettes were retrieved from within the
bonnet, dashboard and fuel tank of the car.
The total customs duty and GST payable amounted to S$18,000.
Meanwhile, at 8.50pm on Sunday night, another Malaysia-registered
car was found to have 850 DVDs hidden in a specially-constructed
compartment in the rear bumper of the vehicle.
The discs were suspected to be obscene and uncensored.
The 26-year-old Malaysian Chinese driver claimed that he was
promised RM200 to smuggle the discs into Singapore.
The driver, as well as the exhibits, were handed over to the Police
for further investigations.
