A 48-year-old Malaysian Chinese man has been arrested and sentenced to seven months' jail for trying to smuggle almost 1,000 packs of cigarettes through the Tuas Checkpoint.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Chin Kek Kiong, who was alone, was nervous when his jeep underwent a routine inspection at the checkpoint on Saturday. The ICA inspectors eventually found the cigarettes hidden in the tyres of the jeep.

The unpaid customs duty and goods and services tax (GST) payable of the 926 packets of cigarettes amounted to about $6,500 and $600 respectively. Chin was charged in court and he pleaded guilty on Monday.

Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, having in possession or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and GST Act.