Customs officers have seized about $5.71 million worth of smuggled cigarettes from a river trade vessel arriving from the Mainland.

At about 7pm yesterday, officers examined a 20-foot container declared to be carrying 318 cartons of plastic utensils from a river trade vessel that had arrived from Huangpu. They found 3.81 million cigarettes, carrying a duty potential of $3.06 million.

The Customs & Excise Department said investigations are continuing and no arrests have been made yet.

It stressed the department will continue to be vigilant and conduct rigorous enforcement action against cross-boundary smuggling activities.

Under the Import & Export Ordinance, anyone found guilty of importing unmanifested cargo is liable to a $2 million fine and seven years prison. The smuggled goods and vessel involved are also liable to forfeiture.