PLANS to light up the sky for one Singaporean was short-lived when the Imigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) busted his attempt to smuggle fireworks into Singapore, early Friday morning.

At 5.20am, a Singapore-registered car was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint for a routine check.

When the ICA officer looked into the car through its window, he observed that the floor was unusually higher.

When the mat was lifted, packages of fireworks were found.

Further checks conducted by ICA officers uncovered more assorted fireworks near the rear passenger seat and in the spare tyre compartment.

The 39-year-old Singaporean driver admitted that he was aware that fireworks were prohibitied in Singapore and that he had bought the fireworks from a provision shop in Malaysia for personal use.

The police are now investigating the case.

If convicted, the driver faces a fine of up to $5,000, or a jail term of up to 2 years, or both.

The discharge of firecrackers is restricted to celebratory events of significance organised at a national level in relation to Chinese New Year, for instance, the Singapore River Hong Bao and the Chinese New Year Eve Countdown event.