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ICA seizes over 1,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes from tour bus at Tuas Checkpoint

SINGAPORE — More than 1,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from a Singapore-registered tour bus at the Tuas Checkpoint on Wednesday (Feb 7).

More than 1,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from a Singapore-registered tour bus at the Tuas Checkpoint on Wednesday (Feb 7). Photo: ICA

More than 1,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from a Singapore-registered tour bus at the Tuas Checkpoint on Wednesday (Feb 7). Photo: ICA

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SINGAPORE — More than 1,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized from a Singapore-registered tour bus at the Tuas Checkpoint on Wednesday (Feb 7).

In a press release issued on Friday, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the duty and Goods and Services Tax for the contraband amounted to S$82,100 and S$6,040 respectively.

The driver, a 57-year-old Singaporean man, was instructed for further checks at Tuas Checkpoint at about 1pm. TODAY understands it was not carrying any passengers.

During the inspection, ICA officers found 1,057 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed within the modified compartments behind the driver seat, floor board and undercarriage of the tour bus.

The driver, contraband goods and vehicle were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations. The vehicle used is also liable to be forfeited.

“(We) will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband,” said the ICA.

“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.”

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