259kg contraband tobacco found in vehicles at Tuas checkpoint over Christmas weekend
Photo: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Sunday, Dec 27, 2015
SINGAPORE - A total of 28,769 sachets of contraband chewing tobacco weighing 259kg were seized at Tuas checkpoint during the long Christmas weekend, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Sunday.
According to the authority, 18,002 sachets of duty-unpaid tobacco were discovered in a Malaysia-registered trailer cabin on the morning of December 24.
The tobacco sachets found in this case weighed a total of 162kg and were hidden in plastic bags in the sleeping compartment behind the driver's seat. A 51-year-old male Malaysian driver was in the vehicle by himself at the time.
Two days later, officers at Tuas checkpoint again found contraband chewing tobacco hidden in a modified compartment under the floorboard of a lorry driven by a 37-year-old Malaysian man.
The 10,767 sachets of chewing tobacco found in this case weighed approximately 97kg.
The total amount of duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded for the two cases was about $77,420 and $5,420 respectively.
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