Customs officers have closed an illicit fuel plant in Yuen Long and arrested a 25-year-old man.

After extensive investigations and close surveillance, officers raided a premises in Pak Sha Tsuen, Yuen Long yesterday. Some 17,000 litres of detreated oil, 9,000 litres of illicit diesel and apparatus was confiscated.

Officers also seized a lorry loaded with 2,400 litres of detreated oil inside a built-in metal drum. The total  value of the seizure amounted to $250,000, with a duty potential of $76,000.

Officers believe the plant was deliberately set up in a remote area to evade Customs investigations, and the oil was for distribution to illicit filling stations in the New Territories.

The Customs & Excise Department warned that the use of illicit oil is a criminal offence, and drivers caught will have a criminal record and have their vehicles forfeited. The maximum fine is $1 million and two years' prison.

Drivers convicted twice will have their driving licence suspended for six months. A total of 19 drivers had their licences suspended by the courts since July 2000.