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Customs officers of the Diesel Oil Enforcement Division made a record seizure of illicit motor spirit yesterday (May 28).

Following extensive investigations and close surveillance, the officers raided an illicit oil storage facility at Kung Um Road in Yuen Long yesterday and seized a container truck loaded with smuggled illicit motor spirit. Subsequently, they intercepted and seized a lorry fully loaded with illicit motor spirit at Man Kam To Control Point.

The operation, against a cross-boundary illicit oil smuggling syndicate, netted a total of 85,000 litres of illicit motor spirit, three containers, two tractors, three trailers and three lorries, worth a total of about $2 million. The illicit oil carried a duty potential of about $520,000.

Officers also arrested two men and one woman, aged between 40 and 50.

"Investigations revealed that the syndicate was involved in the smuggling of illicit motor spirit into Hong Kong via Man Kam To by means of container trucks and lorries," the Divisional Commander of Customs Diesel Oil Enforcement Division, Mr Lai Wai-hing, said today (May 29).

The use of illicit oil is a criminal offence. Drivers who are convicted will have a criminal record and their vehicles could be subject to seizure.

Any driver convicted twice in connection with illicit oil offences faces a six-month driver's licence suspension. Drivers convicted three time or more could be suspended from driving for more than six months.

Mr Lai 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.

End/Thursday, May 29, 2003

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