Over 8,000 litres of illicit fuel worth HK$250,000 seized, driver arrested in Hong Kong

Hong Kong authorities have arrested a man and seized over 8,000 litres of illegal fuel worth HK$250,000.

Photo: Handout Hong Kong authorities have arrested a man and seized more than 8,000 litres (2,100 gallons) of illegal fuel worth HK$250,000 (US$32,000), the latest in a string of similar cases amid the Middle East conflict that has pushed up global oil prices.

A police spokesman said on Friday that a joint operation with the Fire Services Department and the Customs and Excise Department the day before had led to the arrest of a 61-year-old driver linked to about 4,000 litres of suspected black market diesel.

Customs officers also seized 4,100 litres of suspected illicit petrol from two lorries at Container Port Road South in the operation. “The Fire Services Department and customs have removed the illicit fuel involved in the case, and will apply to the court for a confiscation order,” the spokesman said.

Global fuel prices have surged since the start of the US-Israel war against Iran in late February and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for the Middle East oil and gas trade.

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, stood at US$107.32 on Friday.

The Hong Kong Consumer Council’s pump price for petrol on the same day ranged from HK$31.79 to HK$32.19, while the pump price for diesel was HK$32.57 to HK$33.17.

In the operation on Thursday, officers stopped and searched four lorries and one medium-sized truck parked in Kwai Wo Street, discovering a large batch of filling tools and 4,000 litres of suspected illicit diesel worth HK$130,000.

A 61-year-old man was arrested on the spot for allegedly violating laws on fire safety and hazardous goods, as well as for driving without a licence and third-party insurance.

Traffic police towed away two of the vehicles, which were believed to be unfit for road use.

A Tsing Yi police district task force will follow up on the arrest.

A 61-year-old driver is arrested in Hong Kong authorities’ latest crackdown on black market fuel.

Photo: Handout In the same operation, customs officers seized two lorries in a car park on Container Port Road South carrying 4,100 litres of suspected illicit petrol worth HK$120,000.

Hong Kong authorities have ramped up law enforcement against illicit fuel in recent days, with a source confirming to the South China Morning Post last week that the number of cases had increased.

The source earlier said law enforcement raids had found trucks equ

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