2 M’sian men attempt to smuggle 7,500 bags of chewing tobacco in the guise of curry puffs into S’pore

Singapore – “Up in a ‘curry’ puff of smoke,” wrote the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on July 2 (Tuesday) when vigilant ICA officers inspected a consignment of curry puffs and discovered something more than the popular savoury pastry.

On June 29, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint stopped a Malaysia-registered van with a consignment declared as curry puffs, said the ICA.

Upon further inspection, a total of 7,500 sachets of chewing tobacco were found hidden under the curry puffs.

According to the ICA, the case involved a male Malaysian driver, 32, and another male Malaysian passenger, 30. The case has been transferred to the Health Sciences Authority for follow-up.

“Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s security. ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles to prevent smuggling attempts of undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives or other contrabands,” wrote the ICA.

On a more serious note, “the same methods of concealment used by smugglers may be used by terrorists to smuggle arms and explosives to carry out attacks in Singapore,” they added.

The list and attempts of people trying to smuggle items into Singapore keeps on growing.

Luckily, the ICA have proven themselves capable and reliable in sniffing out suspicious items and people.

Another story on curry puffs: Hawker couple had savings stolen in Yishun, suspect arrested

A few days before the curry puff incident, on June 26, the ICA made a “Jack ‘Pot’” discovery when officers uncovered three cubes of brown substance suspected to be cannabis.

It was found inside a pouch on the dashboard of a Singapore-registered lorry as it was driving out from Jurong Port, said the ICA.

“Further checks also revealed one rolled stick, suspected to contain cannabis, concealed among cigarettes in a cigarette box that was placed in the glove compartment of the lorry,” noted the ICA.

Another job well done securing Singapore’s borders.

Read more stories on the creativity involved in smuggling attempts: ICA nabs two M’sians trying to smuggle e-cigarettes into S’pore using their legs as hiding place