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Two weeks after increased security checks on buses arriving at the Tuas checkpoint, Immigration Authority and Checkpoint (ACI) officers thwarted an attempt to smuggle cigarettes from smuggling in Singapore.
1,155 cartons and 796 packets of contraband cigarettes, concealed inside the engine compartment of a Malaysian-registered bus, were liable for $ 105,434 in duties and $ 7,727 in product tax. services.
The 32-year-old Malaysian bus driver was arrested and sentenced to 17 months in prison.
The discovery of cigarettes on August 6 was facilitated by the installation of imaging scanners at the Tuas checkpoint, said Colin Tan Assistant Commissioner ICA yesterday.
Since the two X-ray scanners were installed on July 23, ICA officers also found three passengers sleeping in buses crossing the checkpoint.
All passengers must get off buses for immigration checks when they enter Singapore.
AC Tan, commanding officer of Tuas, said the bus scanners had allowed the ICA to carry out more effective and efficient security checks. "Before, it took at least four hours for four officers to search a bus by hand – this concerned only suspicious vehicles – now, with scanners, we are able to control all the buses that pass through the checkpoint. in a few minutes, "he said.
If the X-ray images show anomalies, the agents will manually inspect the specific parts of the highlighted bus. Radiography poses no risk to the health of drivers because their compartment is not scanned but inspected manually.
Forty officers have been trained to analyze images of bus scanners, the ICA said.
To further enhance security at the Tuas checkpoint, travelers are now required to pass security checks and customs checks before customs clearance. This also applies to those traveling by car to Woodlands Checkpoint.
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