PUBLISHED ONSeptember 08, 2026 10:30 PMBYSean LerImmigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) officers dismantled a car seat and cut open the footwell of a Malaysia-registered car during an enhanced check at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 18.
A video posted by ICA on its social media shows a ratcheting wrench near the officers as two officers lift a partially removed car seat.
Meanwhile, a section of the car's floorboard at the footwell area is seen opened up, revealing cartons of cigarettes hidden inside.
Illegal cartons of cigarettes could also be seen in other compartments such as the boot, door panel, engine bay and glovebox.
ICA said its search and examination officers had directed the car for enhanced checks, acting on information received from its Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC).
There, officers found more than 460 cartons and 1,100 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed within various modified compartments of the car.
The 20-year-old male Malaysian driver was arrested, and the case referred to Singapore Customs for further investigation.
Buying, selling, conveying, possessing or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the Goods and Services Tax Act.
Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded, jailed for up to six years, or both.
Vehicles used to commit such offences, as well as proceeds from the sale of duty-unpaid goods, may also be forfeited.
@asiaone The contraband was found stashed across various modified compartments, including the engine bay and door panels, of a Malaysia-registered car at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 18. #sgnews #Singapore #Crime #Border ♬ original sound - AsiaOne
The ITC operates 24/7 and leverages data analytics to conduct pre-arrival risk assessment of travellers, conveyances and cargo.
Those assessed to be of higher risk are flagged for checks upon arrival at Singapore's checkpoints, before they enter Singapore.
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