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.
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Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
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 Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs and Fire Services Department shut down two illegal fuelling stations Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Drug abuse and drug situation in Hong Kong in first quarter of 2026
The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) convened a meeting chaired by the Chairman of ACAN, Dr Donald Li today (June 12). Members noted at the meeting the figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) and other drug-related figures for the first quarter of 2026. ACAN noticed that the total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2026 was lower than that of 2025. However, the figures tend to show greater volatility in the first quarter of each year. ACAN will closely monitor the situation in the remaining quarters of 2026, and will, at the same time, continue to carry out its anti-drug work.
Figures from the CRDA revealed that the total number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2026 was 1 526, while that of the same period in 2025 was 1 687. The most common reported type of drug abused in the first quarter of 2026 was heroin, followed by methamphetamine (commonly known as "Ice") and cocaine.
The number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21 in the first quarter of 2026 was 266, of which 115 abused etomidate. Etomidate has become the most common type of drug abused among reported young drug abusers since 2025, followed by cannabis and cocaine.
Dr Li, said, "While the total number of reported drug abusers and the number of reported young drug abusers both slightly decreased, the Government must not let down its guard. Anti-drug education should start at a young age to ensure that the younger generation grows and stays healthy and stays away from drug influence throughout their lives. I welcome the Narcotics Division's initiative to launch a range of community engagement activities targeted at children of kindergartens and primary schools and their young parents this year. The activities promote a positive lifestyle and strengthen parent-child relationships, while allowing children to learn the anti-drug messages in a lively atmosphere through a more down-to-earth and interactive way, thereby enabling them to acquire the relevant knowledge more easily."
A spokesperson for the Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau said, "The roving 'Drug-free Camp' pop-up anti-drug game booth, launched in mid-April 2026, has been well received. It will continue to be staged in various districts across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The booth helps the younger generation learn to distinguish between healthy and harmful substances as well as develop drug-refusal skills in an interactive fashion. As for the 'Mascots City Hunt' territory-wide public engagement initiative and the generative AI-powered anti-drug animation series and educational materials to be rolled out in the second half of 2026, they all aim to promote healthy living, strengthen family ties and help children build anti-drug resilience from an early age."
The spokesman also highlighted that methamphetamine, or "Ice", rose from third to second among the most commonly abused drugs in the first quarter of 2026. Hence, the relevant publicity against "Ice" has accordingly been stepped up, including enhanced broadcasting of the Government's TV and radio announcements "'Ice' can mentally cripple you!".
According to the statistical figures from the law enforcement agencies, the total number of persons arrested for drug offences in the first quarter of 2026 decreased by 11 per cent (from 940 to 833) when compared with that of 2025. The number of young arrestees aged under 21 also decreased by 2 per cent (from 140 to 137). Cannabis, cocaine and etomidate were the main drugs involved in these arrests. According to the court cases concluded in the same period, the conviction rate of persons being prosecuted for drug offences was as high as 85 per cent. As for young offenders aged under 21 who were sentenced to imprisonment for drug trafficking, more than half of them were sentenced to over five years in prison, and the longest imprisonment was 28 years.
During the upcoming summer holiday, young people are reminded to stay away from drugs, particularly to be alert to free trips luring them to carry dangerous drugs across borders as "drug mules". Moreover, they should not give out their addresses for receiving "drug parcels". Young age is not a valid mitigating factor for drug offences. In Hong Kong, the maximum penalty for trafficking in a dangerous drug is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
The statistical figures of the CRDA for the first quarter of 2026 are available on the website of the ND (www.nd.gov.hk/en/crda_main_charts_and_tables.html). The ND's website (www.nd.gov.hk) contains detailed information about drugs, including frequently asked questions about etomidate, cocaine and cannabis, for the public's reference. The public can also visit the ND's social media accounts (narcotics.divisionhk) on Facebook and Instagram for more information.
If members of the public encounter any drug problems, they can send messages to 98 186 186 on instant messaging applications WhatsApp and WeChat, or call the 24-hour hotline 186 186 to seek information or assistance from professional social workers. The Police also operates a 24-hour etomidate reporting hotline (number: 6629 2966). Members of the public can also file reports via the instant messaging applications WhatsApp (number: 6629 2966) or WeChat (account: eto-report).
Source: AI-found images
