Illegal fuel site found in Northern Ireland
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HM REVENUE & Customs (H MAC) officers have uncovered another diesel laundering facility in Northern Ireland.
The plant in Rathfriland, County Down was capable of producing nearly two million litres of illegal fuel a year, evading almost £1.2m of duty.
Storage tanks, 30kg of a bleaching agent, 1,300 litres of laundered fuel, 1.000 litres of toxic waste — the bi-product of the laundering process — pumps and equipment were removed from the site.
An investigation into the operation is continuing.
Mike Connolly, assistant director, HMRC specialist investigations, says: "Fuel laundering is unregulated and dangerous; the byproducts from the laundering process can cause severe damage to the environment."
Last month, customs officers raided a diesel-laundering plant In Moy, Co Tyrone, which had the potential to produce more than nine million litres of illegal fuel a year. A facility in Lanarkshire, Scotland, which was capable of producing 750,000 litres of illicit fuel a year (CM 2 Dec) was also raided. Investigations are continuing.
Hauliers caught Illegally using red diesel risk an unlimited fine or jail sentence, and the possibility of having their vehicles seized or forfeited.