Man who tried to smuggle 40 birds into Singapore thwarted at Woodlands checkpoint
A 49-year-old Singaporean man’s attempt to smuggle 40 birds into Singapore while passing through Woodlands checkpoint was thwarted by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers last Friday (21 December).
Officers at the checkpoint had stopped the driver, who arrived in a Singapore-registered car, for further checks, said the ICA on Facebook on Friday (28 December).
After hearing “unusual noise” originating from underneath the car’s rear passenger seat, the officers lifted the seat up and found two boxes containing 40 live birds.
The case was referred to Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the birds are currently under AVA’s care, said the ICA.
“Smuggled animals are of unknown health status and may introduce exotic diseases, such as bird flu, to Singapore,” the authority added.
If convicted of importing live birds into Singapore illegally, the man could be fined up to $10,000, jailed up to a year, or both.
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