OVER $300,000 in contraband cigarettes were seized by alert officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Monday night.

A Malaysian-registered trailer arrived at the checkpoint at 11pm and ICA officers found something amiss with the rear of the trailer.

They noticed that the floorboards seemed to have been modified and they were covered with a fresh coat of paint.

When officers removed the floorboards, they discovered three secret compartments, each like a 'drawer' that spanned almost the entire length of the trailer.

The compartments were filled with 2,009 cartons of contraband cigarettes, worth $335,000 in market value and taxes.

Singapore Customs seized the cigarettes and is holding the trailer driver, a 27-year-old Malaysian, for investigations.

ICA says dealing or possessing contraband cigarettes are serious offences under the Customs and GST Acts.

If convicted in court, first time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded.

For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be jailed for up to two years and fined. The vehicles used in the crime will also be seized.

ICA advises the public not to buy duty-unpaid cigarettes. For a single packet of duty-unpaid cigarettes, buyers will face a minimum fine of up to $500 or be charged in court.