Malaysia officers detain couple attempting to bring over $700,000 in undeclared cash to Singapore

Malaysian border officers detained a husband and wife at the Causeway checkpoint in Johor Bahru on Oct. 27 on suspicion of trying to take cash worth US$719,300) in undeclared cash to Singapore.

Mohd Nasaruddin M. Nasir, deputy director-general (operations) of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), told a press conference on Oct. 28 that the couple, aged 41 and 42, were detained at the Sultan Iskandar Building checkpoint complex, The Star reported.

They were traveling in a multi-purpose vehicle to Woodlands, Singapore, when officers flagged them down for inspection. The officers grew suspicious of the driver's behavior during questioning and told him to open the vehicle's storage compartments and passenger seats, Nasaruddin said.

The search turned up RM1,971,697 ($485,000) and S$300,000 ($234,300).

Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said in January 2024 that its land checkpoints at Woodlands, on the Singapore end of the Causeway, and Tuas were among the busiest land crossings in the world, handling about 400,000 travelers a day combined.

Nasaruddin said the couple, both businesspeople, claimed they were traveling to Singapore as tourists, and that investigators were looking into "the reason for carrying the large amount of funds."

Traffic on the approach to the Causeway checkpoint in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Photo by Unsplash/Ven Jiun (Greg) Chee

The suspects, the cash and the vehicle have been handed over to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for further action, he said.

Cash and other monetary instruments worth more than $10,000 or its equivalent must be declared when entering or leaving Malaysia, and failing to declare them is an offense that can be investigated and prosecuted.

The couple were brought to court on the morning of Oct. 28 for a remand application, national news agency Bernama reported.