Five replica guns, BB pellets seized in Singapore cargo smuggling bid, teen under investigation

ICA officers uncovered a total of six packets and a bottle of BB pellets, 40 packets of 72 caps and five units of replica guns in the container. — Immigration and Checkpoints Authority pic via AsiaOne

By Malay Mail

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 11:12 AM MYT

SINGAPORE, Oct 21 — Singapore authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle replica guns, BB pellets and ammunition caps into the country through a cargo container, with a 19-year-old man now assisting police investigations, The Straits Times reported today.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said yesterday that the shipment was intercepted at the Pasir Panjang Scanning Station on October 1 after officers detected irregularities in a scanned image of the container.

The container had been flagged for further checks based on information from ICA’s Integrated Targeting Centre, which identifies higher-risk shipments for inspection at Singapore’s checkpoints, AsiaOne reported.

During the screening, an ICA image analyst spotted anomalies in the cargo scan, prompting officers to conduct a more thorough examination.

The search uncovered six packets and a bottle of airsoft pellets, commonly known as BB pellets, along with 40 packets of 72 caps and five replica guns.

The case was subsequently referred to the police, with the 19-year-old assisting investigations under Singapore’s Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act.

Singapore requires police approval for the import or export of toy or replica guns.

Police have previously said they would not approve the importation of toy or replica guns that closely resemble actual firearms, citing public safety concerns.

Under Singapore’s Regulation of Imports and Exports Act, first-time offenders convicted of illegally importing replica guns face a fine of up to S$100,000 (RM320,000) or three times the value of the goods, whichever is greater, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

Repeat offenders face a fine of up to S$200,000 or four times the value of the goods, whichever is greater, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.