Hong Kong authorities have arrested a man and seized more than 8,000 litres (2,100 gallons) of illegal fuel worth HK$250,000 (US$32,000), the latest in a string of similar cases amid the Middle East conflict that has pushed up global oil prices.

A police spokesman said on Friday that a joint operation with the Fire Services Department and the Customs and Excise Department the day before had led to the arrest of a 61-year-old driver linked to about 4,000 litres of suspected black market diesel.

Customs officers also seized 4,100 litres of suspected illicit petrol from two lorries at Container Port Road South in the operation.

“The Fire Services Department and customs have removed the illicit fuel involved in the case, and will apply to the court for a confiscation order,” the spokesman said.

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, stood at US$107.32 on Friday. The Hong Kong Consumer Council’s pump price for petrol on the same day ranged from HK$31.79 to HK$32.19, while the pump price for diesel was HK$32.57 to HK$33.17.

In the operation on Thursday, officers stopped and searched four lorries and one medium-sized truck parked in Kwai Wo Street, discovering a large batch of filling tools and 4,000 litres of suspected illicit diesel worth HK$130,000.