SINGAPORE, June 30 — Two men were caught for attempting to smuggle 3,100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes through the Tuas checkpoint in the early hours of yesterday morning, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said.

In a statement today, the ICA said its officers had directed a Malaysian-registered lorry, driven by a 29-year-old Malaysian man, who was accompanied a 21-year-old compatriot, for further checks after they had attempted to pass through the checkpoint at 3.45am with the concealed contraband.

The cigarettes had been hidden in a consignment declared to contain assorted biscuits.

The amount in duty and Goods and Services Tax evaded is estimated to be S$240,560 (RM750,117) and S$17,820, respectively, the ICA added.

Both men, along with the lorry and the duty-unpaid cigarettes were handed over to the Singapore Customs for investigation, and the vehicle is liable to be forfeited. — TODAY