A foreign ship has been caught smuggling 30 tons of diesel oil into China, Shanghai waterfront inspection police revealed.

Officers patrolling on the Luojing Dock spotted two barges taking in fuel from a foreign ship, which police identified as Zhou Jiao, about 1AM on Monday.

An investigation showed the two barges did not have a license to operate.

"Licensed barges collect waste fuels from foreign ships anchoring in local ports, as vessels should not discharge harmful waste into the sea," said Cui Jian, an officer at the Wusong Entry-Exit Frontier Inspection Station.

But the operator untied the cables and fled with the barges when he was warned to berth to assist in the investigation.

The chief engineer on board the foreign vessel later allegedly confessed that the ship was illegally selling unused diesel to the barge operators.

"They were taking cover in the routine collection of waste fuel to smuggle diesel oil into the country," said Cuo.

Thirty tons of diesel valued about 100,000 yuan (US$13,290) had been transferred to the barges before police stopped it.

Immigration police said they had caught the barge operator, who will be detained for investigation.

Zhou Jiao, the foreign ship, was allowed to leave the country with a bail of 150,000 yuan.
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(Shanghai Daily September 14, 2007)