Contraband cases at record high of 40,600
Posted: 16 August 2011 1238 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the number of contraband cases detected soared 22.7 per cent to 40,600 cases in the first six months of this year.
It attributed this to stepped up enforcement effort at the checkpoints and unwavering vigilance of its officers.
The types of contrabands include security-related items, duty-unpaid cigarettes, food, animal and plant products.
On May 18, the ICA scored its largest seizure of contraband cigarettes in five years at Pasir Panjang Scanning Station.
The 412,000 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were worth a whopping S$4.12 million.
The consignment was found in a 40-foot container, wrapped in plain-looking brown boxes and declared as general cargo.
- CNA/ck
