A 23-year-old Malaysian was busted on Sunday after he attempted to smuggle a live bird into Singapore, concealed inside a tube of potato chips.
According to a Facebook post by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) yesterday, officers caught the culprit at Woodlands Checkpoint and found the bird within the chips tube, in the glove compartment of the vehicle.
Noting that the case has been referred to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) for further investigations and that the bird is presently under the care of the AVA, ICA added:
“Smuggled animals are of unknown health status and may introduce exotic diseases, such as avian influenza, to Singapore. Under the Animals and Birds Act, the importation of any animals or live birds into Singapore without a licence is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine, imprisonment for up to a year, or both.
“Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s security. The ICA will continue to conduct security checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.”
Potato chirp chirpICA officers uncovered a live bird hidden inside a potato chips tube in the glove compartment of a…
Posted by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on Tuesday, 29 May 2018