Customs officers of the Diesel Oil Enforcement Division yesterday (November 7) smashed an illicit fuelling station in Lam Hau Tsuen, Yuen Long. They seized 1,600 litres of motor spirit, 4,600 litres of detreated oil and some oil refilling apparatus.
The total seizure value was about $65,000, and the illicit fuel seized worth about $60,000 and with duty potential of about $23,000.
During the operation, a 43-year-old woman who worked in the fuelling station was arrested. She will later be charged with offences under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
About 11pm last night when passing by a privately owned lorries car park in Lam Hau Tsuen, Customs officers found a woman handling oil refilling apparatus in a squatter inside the car park, which was camouflaged by the setting of a kitchen.
They found under the tiles of the kitchen a hydraulic platform, below which oil refilling apparatus was stored. The hydraulic pipe was also connected to an underground oil tank.
Later on, Customs officers located an illicit fuelling station at the other end of the car park, leading to the seizure of another batch of oil refilling apparatus, a small quantity of illicit motor spirit and detreated oil.
Customs officers believed that the offender attempted to evade Customs investigation by hiding the hydraulic platform and the oil storage tank underground, and disguising the squatter as a kitchen by keeping grocery and cooking ware in it.
Investigation showed that business was carried out in the illicit oil refilling station. To minimise loss in case of Customs raid, only a small quantity of illicit oil was kept in the oil tank of the fuelling station. When the tank ran low, the hydraulic platform would be raised and illicit oil would be pumped from the underground oil tank.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, buying and selling illicit oil is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Drivers concerned, once convicted, will have a criminal record and their vehicles will be forfeited.
When convicted twice in connection with illicit oil offence, drivers will have their driving licence suspended for six months. Those convicted thrice or more will have their driving licence suspended for more than six months.
The spokesman stressed that the Customs would continue to take rigorous enforcement action against illicit oil activities. He also appealed to members of the public to call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 to report suspected illicit oil activities.
Ends/Tuesday, November 8, 2005