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Hong Kong police have made nine arrests in a coordinated operation targeting illicit fuel activities amid rising global oil prices, the city's authorities announced on Wednesday. The crackdown involved a joint operation where an illicit motor spirit storage site was seized. Hong Kong, which does not possess its own refineries, relies entirely on imports for its automotive fuel needs, with a significant portion of this supply sourced from neighboring mainland China.

Filling stations in Hong Kong are among the most expensive globally, providing a lucrative incentive for smugglers to illegally transport cheaper fuel across the border.

In September alone, authorities recovered over 30,000 liters of smuggled fuel worth more than HK$1 million (US$127,000), resulting in the arrests of eight men and one woman. Smugglers are utilizing modified cross-border trucks or private vehicles equipped with enlarged fuel tanks to circumvent control points. Chong Sin-han, a senior investigator at the customs department, highlighted that persistently high fuel prices are tempting both illegal traders to sell untaxed gasoline for profit and citizens to take risks by purchasing it.

Fire officers also noted that seized vehicles were often poorly ventilated, posing significant risks of fire or explosion.

The retail price of standard petrol in Hong Kong surged to approximately HK$34.60 per liter this week, a 16.6 percent increase since late February. This price rise is attributed to disruptions in global shipping caused by the Middle East conflict, which strain energy supplies. Additionally, increases in freight and insurance costs have pushed diesel prices to record highs. The Strait of Hormuz shipping routes have experienced significant disruptions, and Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure has faced renewed attacks.

As of September, Hong Kong customs officials had already arrested at least 84 individuals suspected of engaging in illegal fuel dealings and seized 95,000 liters of fuel.