10,000 Cartons Smuggled Cigarettes Seized At Tuas Checkpoint

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, April 13 (Bernama) -- About 10,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized at Tuas checkpoint from a Malaysia-registered lorry, driven by a 33-year-old Malaysian man Wednesday (rpt Wednesday). In a statement today, Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said its officers had noticed anomalies in the scanned images of the lorry which was conveying a consignment declared to contain 'Ceramic Fibers'. During the course of checks, ICA said the officers found the cigarettes concealed among the consignment. The driver, smuggled cigarettes and lorry were handed over to Singapore Customs for investigations, said the Authority. It added that the vehicle used in the commission of such offences is liable to be forfeited. ICA noted that the total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to about S$776,000 (S$1=RM3.17) and S$57,510.00 respectively. -- BERNAMA