3 million illegal cigs hidden behind chopsticks seized

THREE million contraband cigarettes were seized on June 20, after they were found hidden behind boxes of bamboo chopsticks.

The haul is the largest discovered in more than two years, since a February 2007 catch involving 3.5 million illegal cigarettes.

In this recent case, the cigarettes, worth about $1.4 million in total, were found in a container from China, at a checkpoint in Tanjong Pagar near Keppel Wharf.

Initial scanning indicated to checkpoint officers that the container was holding something of a density different from that of chopsticks. This led them to do more thorough checks.

They eventually found that boxes containing cartons of illegal cigarettes had been tucked away from the container's entrance, behind others which held the chopsticks.

A total of 15,000 cartons, each holding 200 cigarettes, were recovered from the consignment.

The loot, along with the driver of the lorry ferrying the container, was handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigation. To date, five people have been detained in relation to this case.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority is coming down hard on those who smuggle unlawful goods into Singapore.

First-time offenders found guilty of bringing in illegal cigarettes can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty on the cigarettes brought in, and jailed for up to three years.

LNK

3 million illegal cigs hidden behind chopsticks seized

3 million illegal cigs hidden behind chopsticks seized

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