JOHOR BARU - The state Customs Department yesterday revealed the number of lorries carrying sand that ply between Johor and Singapore via the Causeway.

The figures were for lorries passing through the Wisma Kastam cargo checkpoint at Tanjung Puteri here.

The figures showed that 1,000 lorries moved between Johor and Singapore through the checkpoint daily.

It was reported on Tuesday that out of 1,000 lorries going through daily, 500 were carrying sand.

Department director Mhd Subre Ishak said the 500 lorries did not carry sand, but various materials with only a small number carrying silica sand.

"There are only 40 Singapore-bound lorries which carried silica sand on a daily basis," he said.

His clarification was aimed at quashing worries of large exports of sand to the republic, which is an issue of controversy. Local suppliers are alleged to have ignored local demand and preferred to export their sand to Singapore due to the high exchange rate.

Sand also became an issue during the controversial reclamation works done by Singapore at Tuas and Pulau Tokong near Kota Tinggi, which began in December 2002.

Subre said the Customs Department conducted stringent checks on sand-laden lorries at the checkpoint, including taking samples and sending them for tests at the Geology Department.

He said his department also kept tabs on "high-risk" exporters, which were companies with records of Customs offences.