14/12/2011

£5m 'Saved' As Diesel Plant Shut Down

A diesel laundering plant capable of producing over 7.8m litres of illicit fuel a year, evading almost £5m in lost revenue, was dismantled by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) this week.

During searches of waste ground in the Dromintee area of Co Armagh on Monday, HMRC, accompanied by officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), uncovered the laundering plant hidden in a shed.

Officers seized 1,000 litres of illicit fuel, a quantity of bleaching earth, used during the laundering process, tanks, pumps, equipment and a vehicle during the operation.

Graeme Anderson, Assistant Director Specialist Investigations, HMRC said: "Every illegal laundering operation has significant environmental and safety issues.

"These operations typically generate tonnes of toxic waste, which is often dumped in the countryside resulting in taxpayers and local ratepayers having to pay for the clean up and disposal costs.

"On this occasion no waste was recovered from the laundering site, which is a major cause for concern and that is why I would urge anyone with information to contact our free telephone hotline 0800 59 5000 and let us know of any fuel misuse or suspicious activities in their area."

He added that investigations are continuing.

(BMcC)

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