SINGAPORE - Two shots were fired at a vehicle suspected of smuggling cigarettes into Malaysia at the Tuas Second Link on Tuesday (Oct 27) night.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said an auxiliary police officer had discharged his weapon near the International Boundary before Tuas Checkpoint at 11.45pm.

ICA officers had first observed four vehicles stopping near the boundary in the direction of Singapore, and two auxiliary police officers were deployed to check on the vehicles.

But as the officers approached, two of the vehicles made a sudden U-turn and drove back in the direction of Malaysia. While the remaining vehicles had initially complied with instructions to proceed to Tuas Checkpoint, one suddenly reversed in a "dangerous manner", against the flow of traffic.

One of the officers then fired two shots at the vehicle, but it failed to stop and fled in the direction of Malaysia.

The driver of the remaining vehicle was detained at Tuas Checkpoint, with preliminary investigations revealing that the persons in the vehicles were involved in the smuggling of cigarettes into Malaysia.

ICA said traffic was light at the time of the incident and there were no injuries. Police are also investigating.

ICA reminded motorists and travellers that security at Singapore's borders and checkpoints was a top priority, and that it takes a serious view of any activity that breaches security or threatens the integrity of Singapore's borders.