Singapore: 250kg of Contraband Chewing Tobacco Seized: ICA

Source from:  Channel NewsAsia 12/28/2015

Authorities have seized more than 250kg of duty-unpaid chewing tobacco at Singapore's land checkpoint in Tuas on two occasions, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Sunday (Dec 27).

Last Thursday at about 10am, ICA officers found more than 18,000 sachets of contraband chewing tobacco in a Malaysia-registered trailer at Tuas Checkpoint. The 162kg of chewing tobacco was wrapped in plastic bags and stashed in the sleeping compartment behind the driver's seat. The 51-year-old Malaysian driver is under investigation, said ICA.

In a separate case on Saturday afternoon, officers at Tuas Checkpoint found more than 10,000 sachets of chewing tobacco in a Malaysia-registered lorry driven by a 37-year-old Malaysian man. The 97kg of contraband tobacco was discovered in a modified compartment under a floorboard, said ICA.

The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded in both cases were S$77,420 and S$5,420 respectively, said ICA. The drivers, contraband chewing tobacco and the vehicles were handed over to the Singapore Customs and investigations are ongoing. Enditem