Eleven puppies were found hidden in a modified fuel tank of a Malaysia-registered car at the Woodlands Checkpoint

M'sian driver nabbed smuggling 11 puppies through Woodlands checkpoint

NST

SINGAPORE: Eleven puppies were found hidden in a modified fuel tank of a Malaysia-registered car at the Woodlands Checkpoint at 9pm on Thursday.

The 43-year-old Malaysian driver of the vehicle was detained by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and handed over to Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) to facilitate investigations.

In a joint statement released yesterday, the ICA and AVA said investigations are underway to determine why there was an attempt to smuggle the puppies into the republic.

According to authorities, animals smuggled into Singapore are of unknown health status and may introduce exotic diseases such as rabies.

The importation of any animal or live bird without an AVA permit is illegal and carries a maximum penalty of S$10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to a year, said ICA and AVA.

The ICA and AVA have reminded travellers against bringing live animals, birds and insects into Singapore without a proper permit. -- BERNAMA