ICA officers rip apart Malaysia-registered car's bumpers, uncover over 190 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers took out tools to take apart a Malaysia-registered car's front and rear bumpers during an enhanced check at Woodlands Checkpoint.

In a series of photographs posted on its social media on Tuesday (Nov 3), ICA officers are seen pulling out the front and rear bumpers of the car.

Contraband cigarettes are also seen in the engine compartment of the car, with black thrash bags placed underneath it.

ICA said its search and examination officers found more than 190 cartons and over 500 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in various modified compartments of the car.

A 34-year-old male Malaysian driver and his 45-year-old male passenger were arrested and the case referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation.

Buying, selling, conveying, possessing and dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act.

Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.

Vehicles used in these offences and proceeds from the sale of duty-unpaid goods may also be forfeited.

在兀兰关卡进行强化检查时，移民与关卡局 (ICA) 的官员拿出工具，拆解了一辆马来西亚注册汽车的前后保险杠。

在周二（11月3日）发布于社交媒体的一系列照片中，可以看到ICA官员正在拉出汽车的前后保险杠。

在汽车发动机舱内还发现了走私香烟，发动机舱下方放置着黑色垃圾袋。

ICA表示，其搜查和检查人员在汽车的各个改装隔间中发现了190多箱和500多包未缴税香烟。

一名 34 岁的马来西亚籍男司机和一名 45 岁的男乘客被逮捕，案件已移交新加坡海关作进一步调查。

根据《海关法》和《商品和服务税法》，购买、出售、运输、持有和处理未缴税货物都是严重的违法行为。

违法者可被处以逃税金额 40 倍的罚款，或被判处最高 6 年监禁，或两者并罚。

用于这些违法行为的车辆以及出售未缴税货物的所得款项也可能被没收。