ICA seizes 13,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes – largest haul for 2023
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) foiled an attempt to smuggle 13,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore through Tuas Checkpoint, the largest such haul for 2023.
ICA revealed in a Facebook post on Jan 22 that the cartons of contraband were hidden with cellophane tape in a Malaysia-registered lorry.
These were uncovered by officers on Dec 21, 2023, after the lorry was directed for enhanced checks.
The case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation, ICA said.
At the start of 2023, on Jan 18, the authority had seized 12,708 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes at Tuas Checkpoint, the largest haul for the year at the time.
In November the same year, ICA thwarted three attempts in one day to smuggle duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore through Woodlands Checkpoint.
Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and GST Act.
Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.
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