************************************************************
Customs officers yesterday (December 27) swooped on an illicit petrol offloading compound and storage centre at Kung Um Road, Yuen Long.
They seized a total of 2,150 litres of illicit petrol, worth $32,166, with a duty potential of $13,047.
Two men, aged 22 and 28, were arrested. They will be charged with dealing with and being in possession of dutiable commodities under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
Acting on intelligence, the Customs officers of the Diesel Oil Enforcement Division conducted the operation, code-named ˇ§Thunder-twisterˇ¨. After mounting surveillance for several days, they took action at about 10pm yesterday.
They seized from a lorry departing from the compound 1,250 litres of illicit petrol and arrested a male driver.
They then seized at the compound another 900 litres of illicit petrol and some offloading equipment.
A male driver who was offloading the illicit fuel from his private car to the compound was arrested and the private car was impounded.
Initial findings showed that the offenders attempted to evade Customs by using remote areas as illicit fuel offloading compounds.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department stressed that the department would continue its vigorous enforcement actions against illicit oil activities.
The spokesman appealed to the public to report suspected illicit oil activities to Customs 24-hour hotline at 2545 6182.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, buying and selling of illicit oil is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
The drivers concerned, once convicted, will have a criminal record and their vehicles may be forfeited.
If convicted twice in connection with illicit oil offences, drivers will have their driving licences suspended for six months. Those convicted thrice or more will have their driving licences suspended for more than six months.
Ends/Friday, December 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:20
NNNN
