Contraband cigarettes found on school bus ferrying students to S'pore

SINGAPORE - Two Malaysian-registered buses - one with students on board - were caught smuggling cigarettes into Singapore last week.

According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), 69 cartons and 112 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from the school bus with six students on board.

The students were on their way to school in Singapore at about 6.40am on Nov 6. The bus, which was driven by a 30-year-old Malaysian woman, was directed for checks at Woodlands Checkpoint.

During inspection, duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed in the modified storage areas of both sides of the bus were uncovered.

For the second case, an empty bus driven by a 19-year-old Malaysian man was directed for further checks at Tuas Checkpoint at about 1am on Nov 9. Boxes of contraband cigarettes were found in the rear luggage compartment of a bus, according to ICA.

A total of 1,850 cartons and 499 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.

The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded for the two cases exceeded $153,650 and $14,660 respectively.

The 30-year-old Malaysian woman was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on Nov 11. Investigations are ongoing for the 19-year-old.

stephluo@sph.com.sg