According to Channel News Asia, the animals were kept in laundry bags and plastic containers as 36-year-old Gobysuwaran Paraman Sivan attempted to drive through the Tuas checkpoint in a lorry on Oct 18, 2022.

Immigration officers found the animals hidden in various parts of the lorry, with some kept in the Malaysia-registered vehicle’s overhead compartment and others packed behind the driver and passenger seats.

One puppy was found dead while 18 others later died from a canine illness. Gobysuwaran was later detained.

Singapore’s national parks board said Gobysuwaran was charged with illegally importing pet animals without a licence and causing unnecessary suffering to the animals in the process.

Under Singapore’s Animals and Birds Act, first-time offenders who import any animal without a licence could face up to 12 months in jail, a S$10,000 fine, or both.

The board also said another case of attempted smuggling at the Tuas checkpoint saw 11 puppies and one kitten being sedated and hidden inside a car.

Some of the animals were hidden underneath the rear seats while the others were kept in the spare tyre compartment of the vehicle.