01/05/2003

Customs raid fuel laundering plant in Co Armagh

Customs officers have dismantled another illegal fuel laundering plant in Co. Armagh.

In a joint operation with PSNI the laundering operation was discovered on farm premises in the Washingbay area and had the capacity to produce around 30,000 litres of fuel per week. This would have produced an annual revenue loss of £750,000.

During the operation, Customs also removed ten thousand litres of contaminated fuel, along with pumps, compressors, filtration tubes and storage equipment.

This follows the seizure by Customs of a laundering plant in Allistragh last week and a mobile diesel laundering plant in the Armagh City area last month.

A Customs spokesperson said: "The operations over the last week have stopped a substantial amount of harmful diesel entering the fuel market and damaging the legitimate trade.

"This Customs / PSNI operation shows the benefit of multi-agency working as part of the Organised Crime Task Force.

"Motorists need to be aware of the full costs of buying cheap diesel. It puts honest fillings stations out of business, robs the taxpayer of money for public services and puts the motorist's vehicle at risk of serious engine damage."

(MB)

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