Singapore has returned 45 vehicles which were stolen in Malaysia last year but found here to the Malaysian police.

These vehicles, estimated to be worth more than RM$5 million, were recovered from places such as HDB carparks as well as from the transhipment area in the ports here, said police in a statement on Monday.

They were either driven or shipped into Singapore and intended for re-export to other countries.

They were returned to the Malaysian police last Thursday, as part of the close working ties between the two countries.

Police said 17 people have been arrested and dealt with in connection with 29 cases of stolen Malaysian vehicles. They were jailed between two months and one year.

In 2006, there were 26 stolen Malaysian vehicles recovered in Singapore. Police said they take a serious view of such transnational crimes and will provide the necessary help to their Malaysian counterparts to combat such car thefts.