SINGAPORE - A 37-year-old man was out on bail pending court proceedings after being charged over his role in dealing with duty-unpaid cigarettes in August. On Wednesday (Dec 13), he was nabbed again for the same offence.

The Singapore Customs said in a statement on Friday that the man was caught in the multi-storey carpark of an East Coast Road shopping mall during an operation.

Officers first observed him driving a car into the carpark and stopping beside a silver van.

He was then see alighting from his vehicle and opening the door of the van.

After conducting checks on him, a total of 1,375 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes kept in several canvas bags were found in the van.

The officers followed up with another search in Lorong 20 Geylang, where they unlocked a white van with a key found in the man's car.

They found another 200 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the van.

In the statement, the Singapore Customs said that the total duty evaded amounted to about $145,960 and that for goods and services tax (GST) $10,680.

Officers also seized a frequency jammer - which is a controlled item - found in the car.

Investigations are ongoing.

Those convicted of dealing with duty-unpaid goods can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.

Repeat offenders caught with more than 2kg of tobacco products will face mandatory imprisonment.