Over 2,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized in Singapore

More than 2,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized in Singapore, said Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in a press release on Tuesday.

ICA revealed that a Malaysia-registered bus, driven by a 37-year-old Malaysian man, was directed by officers for checks upon arrival at Tuas Checkpoint at about 5:50 a.m. local time on Sunday.

During inspection, ICA officers found a total of 2,221 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 70 bundles containing 70 kg of unmanufactured tobacco hidden in various compartments of the bus.

The potential duty and Goods and Services Tax of the contraband cigarettes and unmanufactured tobacco amounted to about 199,810 Singapore dollars (144,722 U.S. dollars) and 19,270 Singapore dollars (13,957 U.S. dollars) respectively.

The driver, the contraband items and the bus were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.

ICA added the vehicle used in the commission of such offenses is liable to be forfeited.