A MALAYSIAN syndicate member who brought in 35 fake credit cards packed in two empty cigarette boxes was jailed for seven years by a district court on Wednesday.

Gan Ee Guan, 44, admitted to conspiring with Yeo Hui Seng, Ah Kong and others to having 18 of the 35 counterfeit credit cards in October.

The remaining charges were considered during his sentencing.

The court heard that Gan, Yeo, 49, and two others were detained by immigration officers on Oct 17 for having forged credit cards and a fake passport.

Investigation showed that Gan was part of an organised Malaysia-based syndicate involved in making, distributing and using fake credit cards.

He had packed 17 pieces of fake credit cards in the name of Lam Wai Man into an empty cigarette box and the other 18 in the name of Lim Kok Thye into another box.

He kept one in his trouser pocket and handed over the other to his accomplice, who is now serving 60 months behind bars for similar offences.

He could have been jailed for up to 15 years and fined on each charge.