SINGAPORE: Officers from Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have foiled another attempt to smuggle cigarettes into Singapore.

The latest incident involved a Malaysian-registered lorry which arrived at the Cargo Complex of the Woodlands Checkpoint at 10.55pm on January 1.

The driver and his accomplice, a Malaysian, had tried to pass off the loot as a consignment of 1,250 cartons of detergent.

However, ICA officers uncovered 6,311 cartons and 1,875 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in boxes amidst the detergent packing.

The Customs duty and GST payable for the haul amounted to nearly S$500,000.

The 22-year-old driver and his 20-year-old accomplice had been working at a trading and logistics company for between six months and a year.

They claimed that they had been instructed to deliver the lorry to Hub Logistics in Singapore and to wait for two Malaysian men who would then collect the cigarettes.

If convicted, first-time offenders could be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed for up to three years.

Repeat offenders could be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed for up to six years.

Offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded.

- CNA/ir