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Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers uncovered more than 3,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes during checks at Tuas Checkpoint on Feb 26, after calling the bluff on the driver of a Malaysia-registered lorry.<\/p>\n
In a post on its social media on Tuesday (March 10), ICA said the lorry, driven by a 32-year-old Malaysian man, was carrying <\/strong>a consignment of goods declared <\/strong>as “mixed parcels”.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Mixed parcels” refer to shipments containing a variety of different items with the same storage or transportation requirements. This approach is said to optimise shipping and reduce costs for bulk items.<\/p>\n In this instance, the truck was directed for enhanced checks, where search and examination officers from ICA found more than 3,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden within the consignment.<\/p>\n The driver was arrested and the case referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation, said ICA.<\/p>\n Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act.\u00a0<\/p>\n Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.\u00a0<\/p>\n Vehicles used in these offences and proceeds of sales of duty-unpaid goods may also be forfeited.\u00a0<\/p>\n [[nid:730465]]<\/p>\n editor@asiaone.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n