A TAXI driver was jailed last Thursday for delivering contraband cigarettes, said the Singapore Customs on Tuesday.

Mr Goh Zhengan Colin, 45, was sentenced to 12 months' jail after he pleaded guilty to two charges of delivering 1,500 packets of illegal cigarettes in his taxi.

The cigarettes were worth more than $13,600 and the duty and GST evaded amounted to over $11,510.

Singapore Customs officers were looking out for taxis suspected of delivering illegal cigarettes near Dunman Road on June 2 this year.

The officers located Goh's taxi and trailed the vehicle all the way to Joo Chiat Road outside Katong Mall.

Singapore Customs officers then moved in, identified themselves and searched the taxi.

Goh was alone and officers found 1,500 packets of illegal cigarettes in the boot.

Further investigations revealed that Goh was using his taxi to deliver illegal cigarettes to some back lanes in the Geylang area.

Goh had been driving a taxi since January this year. It was his fifth illegal cigarettes delivery.

Goh was paid $80 for every successful delivery.

Singapore Customs said that buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing contraband cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs and GST Acts with stiff penalties.

Vehicles used in the commission of such an offence are liable to be forfeited and those found in possession of a packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, face a minimum fine of $500 or prosecution in court.