A Malaysian couple have been detained at the Johor-Singapore border after authorities discovered RM1.97 million and S$300,000 in cash allegedly being taken into Singapore without declaration.
The couple, aged 41 and 42, were stopped at 11.40am on Tuesday during an inspection at the vehicle checkpoint heading towards Woodlands at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.
Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Deputy Director-General (Operations) Datuk Mohd Nasaruddin M Nasir said the couple were travelling in a white Toyota Alphard with a local registration number when three AKPS officers inspected the vehicle.
He said further checks were carried out after the driver displayed suspicious behaviour during questioning and was instructed to open the luggage compartment and passenger seating areas.
Officers subsequently found RM1,971,697 and S$300,000 stored in three boxes, a black backpack and a paper bag.
Mohd Nasaruddin said the couple, who are businesspeople, had travelled from Johor towards Woodlands and were believed to be going on holiday. However, the actual purpose of taking the cash into Singapore remains under investigation.
“The reasons the cash was not declared are still being investigated by the relevant authorities, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department,” he said at a press conference at the AKPS facility at the Sultan Iskandar Complex on Wednesday.
He added that preliminary checks had found no records of misconduct involving the couple.
The cash and vehicle were detained and seized before being handed over to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for further action.
The couple were due to be remanded on Wednesday, with the case being investigated under Regulation 55(1)(b) of the Customs Regulations 2019.
Mohd Nasaruddin said anyone carrying cash exceeding the equivalent of US$10,000 (approximately RM40,000) must declare it to the authorities.
Failure to do so could result in legal action, he warned.
He added that AKPS would continue tightening controls at all national entry points to curb legal violations that could affect the country’s security and revenue.
