Drivers traveling to and fro Singapore and Malaysia have been caught for smuggling illegal things such as chewing tobacco, duty-unpaid cigarettes, drugs, bak kwa, and even Ramly burger patties. This case, however, takes the cake — the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) busted a Malaysian bus driver for attempting to smuggle a person out of the country.
According to the ICA, a 25-year-old male Indian national who was due to appear in court for a separate offence was found hiding in the luggage compartment of a Malaysia-registered bus at Tuas checkpoint last Sunday. Around 9:20pm that night, ICA officers had stopped the bus for checks and noticed that the driver was “visibly nervous”.
Thorough checks were conducted and officers found the illegal passenger. The driver revealed that he was promised S$700 by an “unknown agent” if the man was successfully transported out of Singapore.
The smuggling method isn’t exactly the most creative or subtle one (dude was just sitting there right next to the door), which was something that netizens had a laugh about.
“The ICA takes a serious view of attempts by foreigners who overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally,” the Authority wrote, reminding the public that the penalties for illegal departure could land guilty parties with a prison sentence of up to six months and/or a maximum fine of $2,000.
Both the bus driver and his illegal passenger will be charged in court today for offenses under the Immigration Act.
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