Cigarette smugglers arrested

TWO men were arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint for attempting to smuggle cigarettes into Singapore last Friday.

In both instances, officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) uncovered the contraband cigarettes after conducting a routine search on the cars.

A total of 2,287 packets of contraband cigarettes with a value of $22,800 were seized by the ICA.

The drivers, contraband cigarettes and the cars were handed to the Singapore Customs for investigation.

If convicted, first time offenders can be fined up to 20 times the amount of duty evaded or jailed for up to three years.

For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty evaded and jailed for up to six years.

The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded. The vehicles used in smuggling the contraband cigarettes will also be forfeited.