When they arrived at the Singapore clearance point, officers from the Police Coast Guard boarded the craft for checks.Cheow claimed that the puppies were brought to Malaysia for vaccination, but was unable to produce any proof of this.
When the case was handed over to the now-defunct Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority , officers found 23 puppies - two golden retrievers, three french bulldogs, five shih tzus, nine poodles and four pomeranians stuffed into six small cages. Some of the puppies were described as having been pressed against the sides of the cage and did not have space even to move.
The puppies, which were all estimated to be less than two months old, were weak, lethargic and unwilling to eat. Some vomited and had diarrhoea. About a month later, 10 died of parvovirus, a contagious viral illness that affects dogs, especially puppies. Another had to be euthanised.Cheow admitted to one charge each of abetting the illegal import of animals and animal cruelty, and another two drug charges. Another seven charges for drug trafficking and possession were taken into consideration.