Whiskey smuggling foiled

[Kanetsugu Naoe]

Whiskey smuggling foiled
By Qiuyi Tan | Posted: 24 December 2010 2207 hrs
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SINGAPORE: A Malaysian driver has been fined S$18,000 after he was caught trying to smuggle whiskey from across the causeway.

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers checked the driver's vehicle after a loose bolt on its floorboard roused the officers' suspicion.

The smuggler had tried to hide the whiskey in the fuel tank of a Malaysia-registered car, at the Woodlands Checkpoint on December 17.

After a full examination, the ICA officers found a metallic box that had been installed inside the fuel tank, which contained more than 50 litres of duty-unpaid whisky.

The customs duty and GST amount came up to almost S$2,000.

The driver faces up to 12 weeks' jail if he fails to pay the fine.

ICA said if convicted of importing uncustomed goods, first-time offenders can be fined up to 20 times the duty amount evaded and jailed up to three years.

Subsequent offenders face twice the fine amount and jail term.

-CNA/wk