When it comes to smuggling, some criminals try hiding things in creative places such as cereal cartons, door panels and even spectacle cases.

And then some just fall back on the simple "stuff it down your pants" method.

Officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) encountered one such case on Wednesday, when a man was caught with four live kittens in his trousers.

The suspect, a 45-year-old Singaporean man, was in a car at Tuas Checkpoint when officers heard "meowing" sounds from a bulge in his trousers, prompting them to conduct further checks.

The case was referred to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority for investigation. The kittens were also placed under quarantine there, to be cared for.

The ICA said yesterday that smuggled animals are of unknown health status and may introduce exotic diseases, such as rabies, to Singapore.

Under the Animals and Birds Act, the importation of any animal or live bird into Singapore without a licence is illegal. Offenders may be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to a year.

Timothy Goh