Police have arrested 16 suspects for transporting and selling liquid petroleum gas (LPG) without a license, the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau reported Tuesday.
The illicit sale of LPG poses a danger because most unlicensed dealers sell the gas in substandard tanks or cylinders that could leak or explode.
"Liquid petroleum gas is a dangerous substance and individuals without proper licenses are prohibited from selling it," said an employee with the Shanghai Liquid Petroleum Gas Corp, a major local LPG distributor.
Police got word of the unlicensed gas dealers from local residents who complained in late October that someone was selling gas cylinders near Zhongshan Road West in Xuhui district, according to a police press release.
This group of LPG dealers charged local residents and owners of small restaurants 100 yuan ($15.90) per cylinder, plus a 10 yuan delivery fee, police said.
They bought the gas cylinders for 93 yuan to 95 yuan, stored them in vans and delivered them on scooters, bicycles and pedicabs. The gas is primarily used to fuel gas-powered stoves and water heaters in areas of Shanghai that don't have access to city gas lines.
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