A lorry driver was caught trying to bring 12,479 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore encased inside 16 large concrete blocks.

Largest haul in five years

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement on Monday, Aug. 19 that this was the largest haul in the last five years.

ICA officers found the cigarettes after they noticed anomalies when they conducted checks on the arriving Malaysia-registered lorry at Tuas Checkpoint on July 29 at about 9.05am.

They then drilled into the concrete blocks and discovered the hidden cigarettes.

Lost revenue

The lost revenue in duty from the attempted importation would have amounted to about S$1,240,430

Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded would have come up to S$90,590

The 25-year-old male Malaysian driver was arrested and further investigations are ongoing.

Safeguarding Singapore’s borders remains ICA’s top priority, the ICA statement said.

“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,” said ICA.

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