SINGAPORE - An attempt to smuggle 2,250 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes was thwarted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Friday (May 26) night.

The ICA said in a media release on Monday that a Malaysia-registered empty tanker truck arriving from Malaysia was stopped for further checks on Friday evening.

Checks by ICA officers revealed that 2,250 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were concealed in a modified compartment at the base of the tanker.

The total duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded amounted to about $174,600 and $12,940 respectively.

The 36-year-old Malaysian driver, the cigarettes and the truck were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigations. The truck is liable to be forfeited.

The ICA also added that it would continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband items.

Said the ICA: "The same methods of concealment used by contraband smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore."