SINGAPORE- Two men were arrested and more than 3,700 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized by the Singapore Customs in an operation on Monday.

The duo - a 38-year-old Bangladeshi and a 24-year-old Singaporean - were nabbed after  Customs officers uncovered 3,744 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes wrapped in black trash bags, and 288 empty green baskets in a unit at an industrial building in the vicinity of Corporation Drive, said Singapore Customs. The baskets were allegedly used to mask the duty-unpaid cigarettes.

The officers were monitoring the unit when the two men entered earlier and conducted a check when one of them exited the unit.

The total duty and goods and services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $319,730 and $25,440 respectively.

Investigations are ongoing.

Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and jailed for up to six years.

Those with information on smuggling activities or evasion of duty or GST can call the Singapore Customs hotline on 1800-233-0000 or e-mail customs_intelligence@customs.gov.sg.