PUBLISHED ONAugust 13, 2026 6:12 AMBYSean LerOn two consecutive days last week, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled separate attempts by two motorcyclists to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes and vapes into Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint.
Photographs posted on its Facebook on Thursday (Aug 13) show the contraband items hidden in plastic bags within the storage compartments.
The first case, involving a Malaysia-registered motorcycle, took place on Aug 3.
According to ICA, its search and examination officers had directed the 46-year-old male Malaysian motorcyclist to undergo an enhanced check.
There, officers found more than 30 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, and over 60 vaporisers and related components, hidden in the motorcycle's storage box.
The following day, on Aug 4, a 51-year-old male Singaporean motorcyclist was also directed to undergo enhanced checks, where ICA search and examination officers found more than 25 cartons and 30 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes, and over 60 vaporisers.
These contraband items were hidden beneath the seat and the Singapore-registered motorcycle's storage box.
Both motorcyclists were arrested and the cases referred to the Health Sciences Authority and Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act.
Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.
Vehicles used to commit such offences, as well as proceeds from the sale of duty-unpaid goods, may also be forfeited.
Meanwhile, under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, vape users, sellers, and smugglers face fines of $10,000, $20,000 and $300,000 respectively. Sellers and smugglers may also be jailed for up to six years and nine years respectively.
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