Two Mercedes-Benz cars of the same colour and make were used to smuggle contraband cigarettes across the Causeway from Malaysia to Singapore. Both were caught at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Monday afternoon.

The first car was driven by a lone male, who was subjected to checks after behaving uneasily during questioning. Upon lifting the rear backrest, Immigration Custom Officers (ICA) discovered 520 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a modified fuel tank.

The potential customs duty and GST payable amount to S$3,700 and S$330 respectively.

The 49-year-old man confessed to smuggling the cigarettes across the border as he was unemployed and in "dire need of money". He was also told that he would be paid $200 upon successfully delivery.

The driver admitted that a Singaporean man in Geylang by the name of "Ah Leng" had informed him about the smuggling job and also helped him modify the car.

About two hours later, another lone driver of a Mercedes-Benz was also caught with 466 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a modified fuel tank, bolted down by the rear backrest.

The potential customs duty and GST payable amount to S$3,340 and S$300 respectively.

Photos: Immigration Customs Authority

The 39-year-old man admitted to knowing about the hidden cigarettes and told ICA that a Malaysian man named "Ah Weng" had told him to drive the car to Johor Bahru to load the goods and to fit the car with a fuel tank.

He was also told by "Ah Weng" to drive the car to the Woodlands Town Centre carpark and wait for further instructions. Upon successful delivery, he would be paid $200 as well.

The two offenders, along with the cars and cigarettes have been handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.

If found guilty and convicted, they could both face up to a fine of 20 times the amount of duty evaded and liable to a jail term not exceeding three years.