Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs and FSD mount operation against illicit fuel storage site and illegal fueling stations
During the operation, officers of Customs and the FSD shut down three mobile illicit motor spirit fueling stations and two illicit diesel fueling stations in Kowloon Bay, Tsz Wan Shan, Tsing Yi and Tuen Mun. About 3 100 litres of illicit motor spirit, 60 000 litres of diesel and a large batch of fueling equipment were seized. Seven persons, believed to be the persons-in-charge of the illegal fueling stations, and three men who were coming for fueling, aged between 34 and 66, were involved in the cases. A total of six vehicles involved were also seized.
In addition, on January 8, 12 and 15, Customs officers dismantled one illicit motor spirit storage site and two illicit motor spirit fueling stations in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. In the illicit motor spirit fueling station located in a tin-sheet structure in Tuen Mun, a cross-boundary truck which was unloading illicit motor spirit was intercepted. A 37-year-old non-local man, being the truck driver, and a 54-year-old non-local woman, believed to be the operator of the illegal fueling station, were arrested. A total of about 4 000 litres of illicit motor spirit, one cross-boundary truck and batches of fueling equipment were seized in the three cases.
The 12 individuals involved in the cases are suspected of dealing with or buying illicit fuel, violating various ordinances including the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) and the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (DGO). Investigations are ongoing.
Customs will continue to collaborate with the FSD in combating illicit fuel activities. Members of the public are also urged not to patronise illegal fueling stations. The use of illicit fuel is a criminal offence, and vehicles involved may be liable to confiscation.
According to the DCO, any vehicle found conveying illicit motor spirit, as well as any tools, equipment, or articles used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of related offences, shall be liable to forfeiture whether or not any person is convicted of any offence. Anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit motor spirit commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Under the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation, it is an offence to possess or control any controlled substance for the business purpose of transferring it into vehicle fuel tanks. The DGO also provides that no person shall manufacture, store, convey or use any dangerous goods unless they possess a licence or exemption granted. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty for the first offence is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months. For each subsequent offence, the maximum penalty is a $200,000 fine and imprisonment for one year.
Moreover, Customs reminds cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers not to engage in any smuggling activities. Under the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO), any vehicle found to have the fittings, fabric or structure altered and used for smuggling purposes may be subject to forfeiture.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the IEO, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public are urged to report suspected illegal fuel activities via the Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or the FSD’s 24-hour reporting hotline 5577 9666. The public may also report through the Illicit Fuelling Activities on the Fire Hazard Electronic Complaint Portal of the FSD (fhcp.hkfsd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:15
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