Former Certis officer jailed 17 months for aiding cigarette smuggling syndicate
A former Certis security officer was jailed 17 months after facilitating 26 cigarette smuggling operations and receiving S$1,572 in bribes, while sharing confidential deployment details with an accomplice.
- Ex-Certis officer enabled 26 smuggling runs in exchange for S$1,572 in bribes.
- Confidential deployment details were shared to bypass security checks.
- Case exposed broader network involving multiple accomplices.
SINGAPORE: A former Certis security officer was sentenced to 17 months’ jail on 22 April for facilitating cigarette smuggling operations and accepting bribes.
Muhammad Haaziq Karudin, 34, also received a financial penalty of S$1,572, equivalent to the amount he had taken in illicit payments.
He pleaded guilty on 14 April 2026 to one count of graft and one count of sharing confidential work schedule information under the Official Secrets Act.
Pattern of coordinated smuggling
Court proceedings revealed that Haaziq enabled 26 successful smuggling operations between 10 August and 25 November 2022.
He allowed vehicles carrying contraband cigarettes to pass through his inspection lane at Jurong Port without proper checks.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Riasudeen stated: “After the first successful smuggling operation where the accused facilitated Sukaimi’s exit from the port with contraband cigarettes... Sukaimi rewarded the accused by transferring between $50 and $100 via PayNow.”
The total bribes amounted to S$1,572 across multiple transactions.
In addition to accepting payments, Haaziq shared confidential deployment schedules, allowing smugglers to identify favourable times to move contraband.
“Whenever Sukaimi approached the accused’s lane, the latter would conduct a superficial check on Sukaimi’s vehicle, allowing Sukaimi to pass through,” the prosecutor said.
Network of offenders linked to case
Haaziq was the fifth individual dealt with in court in connection with the case.
Earlier proceedings involved three other former Certis officers: Muhammad Khairul Amir Suhaimi, Sri Daniah Abdul Razak, and Mohamad Aziffi Selamat.
Muhammad Sukaimi Gasali, a crane operator at the time of the offences, had been sentenced in February 2026 to four years and seven months’ jail, along with a S$5,000 fine.
The court heard that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority had contracted Certis to deploy officers at Jurong Port and Tuas Checkpoint.
Their responsibilities included detecting and preventing attempts to smuggle contraband into Singapore.
Origins of the corrupt arrangement
Haaziq met Sukaimi in late 2020 while conducting routine checks at Jurong Port.
The two became acquainted, and in July 2022, Sukaimi approached him with a proposal to facilitate cigarette smuggling.
He instructed Haaziq to “close one eye” when his vehicles passed through inspection lanes.
Haaziq subsequently complied, enabling repeated illegal entries without proper enforcement action.
Smuggling scheme exposed in 2024
The offences came to light following a checkpoint interception on 19 April 2024.
At approximately 4.30am, Immigration officers stopped a vehicle driven by Malaysian national Mohd Hafiz Kamarulzaman at Tuas Checkpoint.
A search uncovered 22 cartons and 470 packets of contraband cigarettes.
Investigations later revealed that Hafiz had communicated via WhatsApp with Daniah on previous occasions.
These exchanges helped him identify “safer times” to enter Singapore with illegal goods.
Authorities arrested Haaziq on 15 July 2024, though further details surrounding the arrest were not disclosed in court.
Court documents did not indicate whether Hafiz has been charged or dealt with in judicial proceedings.
