Singapore seizes illegal cigarettes, tobacco worth $2.8 mn

Singapore has seized 4,050 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 150 kg of duty-unpaid tobacco from a Malaysia-registered vehicle.

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Monday in a press release said the Malaysia-registered prime mover, driven by a 42-year-old Malaysian, was stopped for checks at Tuas checkpoint on Saturday.

ICA uncovered a total of 4,050 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and 150 bundles of duty-unpaid un-manufactured tobacco, hidden amongst the consignment, Xinhua news agency reported.

The total value of the seized cigarettes and tobacco was estimated to be 419,000 Singapore dollars ($2.8 million).

The Malaysian man, the contraband items and the vehicle were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations, ICA said.

ICA said it will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons and explosives.