Time-saving devices: The illicit plant operators made use of high-pressure tanks to cut the oil detreating time in half.

Customs officers have closed an illicit oil detreating plant on Hang Tau Road in Kwu Tung, Sheung Shui.

About 5.30am today, officers from the Diesel Oil Enforcement Division stopped an oil tanker from leaving the site in Kwu Tung and seized 16,000 litres of detreated oil with a duty potential of about $47,000.

Customs officers also seized equipment and materials used in the detreating process, including used activated carbon, three high-pressure tanks and a container for storing detreated oil. The total value of the seized goods is about $420,000.

A 52-year-old driver was arrested. He is expected to be charged with offences under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.

Customs officers said high-pressure tanks filled with activated carbon were used in a filtration process, to remove the colour from the industrial marked oil. Using the tanks cut the three-hour processing time for 16,000 litres of marked oil in half.

Using illicit fuel is a criminal offence. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, buying and selling illicit fuel is liable to a maximum fine of $1 million and jail for two years. Drivers using illicit fuel will have their driving licences disqualified for half year and their vehicles forfeited.