12,479 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized in the largest haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the last five years

A total of 12,479 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized at Tuas Checkpoint on 27 July 2019, at about 9.05 am in the largest haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes uncovered by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in the last five years. ICA said in a press release on Monday (19 August) that its officers conducted checks on an arriving Malaysia-registered lorry at the over-sized lorry lane and found that it was carrying a consignment 16 concrete blocks.

During the course of checks, ICA said that its officers’ suspicions were aroused when they noticed anomalies in the concrete blocks.

The officers then drilled holes into the concrete blocks and uncovered duty-unpaid cigarettes encased within.

According to the authority, the 25-year-old male Malaysian driver was immediately placed under arrest and the case was handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigation. A total of 12,479 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were retrieved from the concrete blocks. The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $1,240,430 and $90,590 respectively.

Investigations are still ongoing.