In a last minute change of heart, a Malaysian driver tried to turn back to Malaysia when he reached Woodlands Checkpoint, claiming that his car had broken down.
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers however found out why really wanted to turn back — his car was filled to the brim with contraband cigarettes, all hidden in various parts of the car.
The inspection uncovered stacks of cigarettes hidden in the spare tyre in the car boot, the engine compartment, front and rear bumpers, door panels, modified floor boards and even under the passenger seats.
In total, 253 cartons of contraband cigarettes were recovered from the vehicle with the potential duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded amounting to around $19,360 and $1,870 respectively.
Both the 25-year-old driver and his 22-year-old female passenger were as well as the vehicle were handed over to Singapore Customs for investigations.
