PUBLISHED ONMay 13, 2026 8:35 AMBYEsther LamSix Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by Singapore Customs officers following an enforcement operation in Choa Chu Kang on April 30.
Officers also seized 3,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes, about 17g of drugs including Ice and cannabis, and a locally registered van.
The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $453,965, said Singapore Customs in a media release on Wednesday (May 13).
Acting on a tip-off, officers had conducted checks on the public utilities room of a multi-storey car park in the vicinity of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1.
They found 2,700 cartons of contraband cigarettes hidden within and among packages labelled as dog food, along with drugs and drug utensils.
Five men, aged 25 to 42, who were inside the room were arrested.
A vehicle key found on one of the men led officers to a van parked nearby. Inside, officers found 800 more cartons of contraband cigarettes.
The sixth man, aged 29, was arrested nearby in connected to the case.
Customs investigations are ongoing for all six men, while their suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau.
Under the Customs Act and the GST Act, buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing in duty-unpaid cigarettes are serious offences.
Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.
Vehicles used in committing such offences are also subject to forfeiture.
Members of public can report on smuggling activities or duty or GST evasion to Singapore Customs at https://go.gov.sg/reportcustomsoffence.
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