ICA foils smuggling attempts

[|ASIA|]

ICA foils smuggling attempts
Posted: 01 February 2011 1908 hrs
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Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers use a fibre optic scope to check a car at the Woodlands Checkpoint in Singapore </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td class="update"></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>
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SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has foiled three animal smuggling attempts in the last five days.

A Singaporean man was caught on Monday after he tried to smuggle seven rabbits into Singapore.

The bunnies were found in one of two bags he had with him, in a Malaysia-registered taxi at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

The 29-year-old man revealed he had bought the rabbits from a pet shop in Malaysia for RM128.

He has been referred to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) for investigations.

About six hours later an attempt to smuggle 15 "red-whiskered bulbul'' birds was foiled.

The birds were found in two boxes in the luggage compartment of a Malaysian bus after scanned images of the bus showed anomalies. Physical checks were then conducted.

ICA officers had days before uncovered 16 puppies hidden within the speaker compartment of a Malaysian-registered car at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

The 35-year old Chinese driver is currently under investigation by the AVA.

The ICA and AVA have issued a reminder that it's an offence to bring into Singapore live animals, birds and insects without a proper permit.

Those found guilty can be fined up to S$10,000 and jailed for a year.

-CNA/wk