Customs close Co Tyrone fuel laundering plant

Customs officers have dismantled an illegal fuel laundering plant in Co Tyrone in a joint operation with PSNI.

The second plant to be closed down was located at premises in the Benburb area had the capacity to process around 35,000 litres of fuel per week.

This follows the seizure of a fuel laundering plant near to Loughall on Tuesday, which had a weekly capacity to launder 40,000 litres a week. Customs officers claim both plants would have produced a combined annual revenue loss of almost two million pounds.

During the operations, Customs also removed 13,000 litres of contaminated fuel, along with pumps, compressors, filtration tubes and storage equipment. Two vehicles used for transporting the laundered fuel were also seized at the Loughall site.

Commenting on the find, Customs' Head of Anti-smuggling Northern Ireland Colin McAllister 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."

Inquiries in relation to the discovery of the plants are continuing.

(MB)