SINGAPORE, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) seized a total of 322 cartons and 897 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes at Woodlands Checkpoint on April 5, ICA said in a press release on Tuesday.
The authority said the total potential customs duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) involved amounted to about 34,360 Singapore dollars (24,447 U.S. dollars) and 2,530 Singapore dollars (1,800 U.S. dollars) respectively.
According to the statement, ICA officers detected duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in the engine compartment of a Singapore-registered car. More duty-unpaid cigarettes were found in the front and rear bumpers, dashboard, modified spare tyre compartment and rear door panels of the vehicle.
The 44-year-old male Singaporean driver, along with the exhibits and vehicle were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
The authority said it will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband.
"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," added ICA.
