Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department Shut Down Two Illegal Fuelling Stations

Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations

Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department (FSD) mounted a territory-wide blitz operation targeting illicit fuel activities on June 10. During the operation, officers of the two departments detected two related cases and seized about 3 200 litres of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $104,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized.

In the afternoon on June 10, during a joint anti-illicit fuel operation in Tung Chung, officers of Customs and the FSD raided an illegal fuelling station at Shek Lau Po and seized about 1 600l of illicit motor spirit and a batch of oil filling equipment. The case is under investigation. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

In the evening on the same day, Customs and FSD officers continued the joint operation in Kwai Chung and raided an illegal mobile fuelling station at the roadside of Kwai Tai Road. About 1 600l of illicit motor spirit, a batch of oil filling equipment and a lorry connected with the case were seized. Two non-local men, aged 57 and 33, were arrested. They were suspected to be the operator of the illegal fuelling station and the driver of the lorry used to transport illicit motor spirit respectively.

They were suspected of dealing with illicit fuel, violating various ordinances including the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance(DCO) (Cap. 109) and the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, and have been charged with dealing with goods to which the DCO (Cap. 109) applies.

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 Dangerous Goods Ordinance 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 will be a $200,000 fine and imprisonment for one year.

Customs and the FSD will continue to take enforcement action against illicit fuel activities. Members of the public may report suspected illicit fuel activities via the Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or the FSD's 24-hour 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.hk).

Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department mounted a territory-wide operation targeting illicit fuel activities on June 10. During the operation, officers of the two departments detected two related cases and seized about 3 200 litres of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $104,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. Photo shows an illegal mobile fuelling station raided in Kwai Chung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department mounted a territory-wide operation targeting illicit fuel activities on June 10. During the operation, officers of the two departments detected two related cases and seized about 3 200 litres of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $104,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. A vehicle connected with one of the cases was seized, and two persons were arrested. Photo shows an illegal mobile fuelling station raided in Kwai Chung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department mounted a territory-wide operation targeting illicit fuel activities on June 10. During the operation, officers of the two departments detected two related cases and seized about 3 200 litres of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $104,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. A vehicle connected with one of the cases was seized, and two persons were arrested. Photo shows an illegal mobile fuelling station raided in Kwai Chung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department mounted a territory-wide operation targeting illicit fuel activities on June 10. During the operation, officers of the two departments detected two related cases and seized about 3 200 litres of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $104,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. Photo shows an illegal fuelling station raided in Tung Chung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department mounted a territory-wide operation targeting illicit fuel activities on June 10. During the operation, officers of the two departments detected two related cases and seized about 3 200 litres of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $104,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. Photo shows an illegal fuelling station raided in Tung Chung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs and the Fire Services Department mounted a territory-wide operation targeting illicit fuel activities on June 10. During the operation, officers of the two departments detected two related cases and seized about 3 200 litres of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $104,000 and a duty potential of about $20,000. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. Two persons were arrested, and one vehicle connected with one of the cases was also seized. Photo shows an illegal fuelling station raided in Tung Chung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise WATCHER successfully concluded

Hong Kong Customs, in collaboration with the Immigration Department (ImmD), conducted a joint counter-terrorism exercise codenamed "WATCHER" this morning (July 28) at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

About 100 officers from Customs and the ImmD participated in the exercise. The exercise simulated a scenario in a joint departmental counter-terrorism operation during a major festival, where the driver and passenger of an outbound private car were suspected to be related to terrorist activities. Officers subsequently detected suspected terrorism-related items and forged travel documents inside the vehicle. During the examination, a suspected bomb device was discovered at the outbound private car kiosk. Officers immediately initiated an evacuation operation, evacuating all persons at the scene in a safe and orderly manner.

This exercise enhanced frontline officers' counter-terrorism awareness and their capabilities to handle counter-terrorism intelligence, while strengthening inter-departmental co-ordination and communication in response to terrorism-related emergencies, protecting the lives and property of citizens as well as safeguarding national security.

Inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise WATCHER successfully concluded Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise WATCHER successfully concluded Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise WATCHER successfully concluded Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise WATCHER successfully concluded Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise WATCHER successfully concluded Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases