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Clifford Lo

Twenty-two drivers abandoned their trucks and fled during a raid by 120 Customs officers yesterday on illegal fuel operations.

Another 22 were arrested in the swoop at the Sha Tin cargo handling area.

About 90 drivers were queueing to unload sand and stone from their trucks on to barges at the Ma Liu Shiu site when officers from Customs' diesel oil enforcement division arrived.

'As we moved into the site, 22 drivers jumped out of their vehicles, fled on foot and disappeared. Two of the 22 trucks were filled with illicit oil,' said Assistant Superintendent Law Man-wai.

'Another 22 drivers were arrested when illegal fuel was found inside the tanks of their trucks.'

Officers checked 102 trucks between 10am and 5pm.

Mr Law said: 'The price of taxed diesel is about $6 a litre and illicit oil costs about $2.50 a litre. These drivers use about 100 litres a day each. So they could save about $10,000 a month by using the illegal fuel.'

In the past, each driver charged $250 for transporting a full load of sand and stone from a construction site to Ma Liu Shiu, off the Tolo Highway. Due to fierce competition, they now charge about $180 a trip.

At about 4pm, 20 of the 22 drivers who had abandoned their vehicles returned to the site. It is believed they just panicked. They were released after being questioned. But the other two drivers whose trucks were full of illicit oil were still at large.

Mr Law said five of the trucks were confiscated for repeat offences. He said under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, drivers who are caught using illegal fuel can face a $1 million fine and two years in jail.

Similar operations would be mounted in Tseung Kwan O, Tuen Mun, Tung Chung, North Point and Western if necessary, Mr Law said.



Truck drivers flee Customs swoop