An attempt to smuggle contraband items to Singapore in a Malaysia-registered lorry was foiled at Tuas Checkpoint by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on June 18.

ICA officers noticed anomalies in the scanned image of the vehicle carrying a consignment of assorted liquid detergents.

Upon further checks, a total of 5,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were uncovered.

The case was referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.

In a separate case on June 25, Singapore Customs officers checked two suspicious men in the vicinity of an industrial unit in Depot Lane.

Using a key found on one of them, officers opened the back door of the unit and discovered a third man with 3,750 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes inside, along with a consignment of stretch film, which is like giant cling wrap for wrapping cargo.

The three Singaporeans, aged 26, 27 and 43, were arrested.

Investigations revealed that one of the men was allegedly engaged to collect and deliver the cigarettes to the industrial unit and keep a lookout for authorities. The other two men were allegedly engaged to repack the cigarettes in the unit.

Following leads, Singapore Customs officers went to a warehouse in Pandan Avenue on June 27 and discovered another 3,750 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in five pallets among the stretch film.

In total, 7,500 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized.

The total duty and goods and services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $812,788.

Court proceedings are ongoing against two of the men while investigations are ongoing for the third man.

Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences where offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.