Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) seized nearly the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Thursday, the authorities said. According to reports, the cigarettes were smuggled in by a 33-year-old Malaysian man who was driving a Malaysia-registered truck into Singapore.
The authorities said that the operation was done at 4 am. It was declared that the consignment, which the cigarettes were concealed among, contained an assortment of biscuits. The total duty and Goods and Services tax evaded was about $232,800 and $17,250 respectively.
The man along with the cigarettes and truck has been handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
"Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore," ICA said in a statement to The Straits Times.
According to Singapore law, the vehicle commissioned is liable to be forfeited in such an offence.
