Contraband cigarettes, unmanufactured tobacco seized at Tuas checkpoint

SINGAPORE: A total of 2,221 cartons of contraband cigarettes and 70 bundles containing 70kg of unmanufactured tobacco were seized by the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at the Tuas checkpoint recently.
In a statement today, ICA said the contraband items were found in a Malaysia-registered bus, driven by a 37-year-old Malaysian man on May 29.
During the course of inspection, the ICA officers found the items hidden in various compartments of the bus.
ICA said the driver, the contraband items and the bus were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.
The vehicle used in the commission of such offences is liable to be forfeited, it said.
The Authority said the potential duty and Goods and Services Tax of the contraband cigarettes and unmanufactured tobacco amounted to about S$199,810 (RM596,704) and S$19,270 respectively. — Bernama