Over 3,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes seized at Woodlands Checkpoint

SINGAPORE - Over 3,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes were seized from a Malaysia-registered lorry during routine checks at Woodlands Checkpoint on Tuesday afternoon, said the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a statement on Wednesday.

The lorry was driven by a 38-year-old man with his 32-year-old male attendant. Both men are Malaysians.

ICA officers discovered anomalies while scanning the vehicle and later uncovered a total of 3,203 cartons and 979 packets of contraband cigarettes that were hidden within the consignment at the back of the lorry.

The consignment had been falsely declared as "assorted plastic parts" to evade duty and Goods & Services Tax (GST) that amounted to $261,000 and $24,800 respectively.

ICA said that the two suspects, exhibits and lorry were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations.

minlee@sph.com.sg