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A MALAYSIAN driver was sentenced to two years' jail for attempting to smuggle a total of 20,970 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes. He had attempted to conceal the cigarettes with bricks.
Selva Rajoo Kumarwell, 21, arrived at the Tuas Checkpoint on Apr 11, 3am, when his Malaysia-registered vehicle was intercepted by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers.
Upon inspection, ICA officers found contraband cigarettes amounting to more than $161,000 of unpaid duty and GST hidden beneath the centre column floorboard of the trailer. To avoid detection, he used bricks as cover load to conceal the illegal cigarettes.
Investigations reveal that Kumarwell was hired to smuggle cigarettes from Malaysia into Singapore. He was charged on Monday.
A total of 298 offenders dealing with illegal cigarettes have been arrested in the first three months of the year. Once convicted, they will be fined up to 20 times the duty and GST evaded, and could face jail term.
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| Trailer attached to the prime mover. |
Top view of the modified floorboard of the trailer. |
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| Level view of the modified floor board. |
A total of 20,970 packets of illegal cigarettes were seized at the joint SC-ICA operation. |
Photos: Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
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