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13/06/2002
Crackdown on illegal fuel trade continues
A major fuel laundering plant, three filling stations and over 100 vehicles have been snared in a weeklong blitz by Customs on illegal fuel trading.
The laundering plant, which was discovered in farm buildings on the outskirts of Cookstown, County Tyrone had the capacity to launder over 100,000 litres of diesel per week.
During the operation Customs officers also seized around 47,000 litres of laundered fuel and an estimated £50,000 of pumping, storage and filtration equipment.
A Customs officer described the seizure as a “significant hit” on illegal fuel trade.
In separate operations this week, Customs seized 137 vehicles detected using illegal fuel. Ten taxis in the Coleraine area and ten buses in the Larne area were among those seized, along with a number of other commercial and private vehicles.
In other province-wide operations, three filling stations and a laundered fuel-bunkering site where illegal fuel was discovered have been closed down.
A Customs spokesperson said: “We have closed down four laundering plants in as many weeks, which together had a capacity to launder in excess of 450,000 litres of diesel a week.
“With the vehicles and filling stations also caught in our recent blitz, this represents a significant hit on the illegal fuel trade.
“We have repeatedly warned motorists to think before buying cheap fuel and we are making it quite clear that we will continue to target illicit fuel use. Motorists face not only expensive repairs to their engine but risk having their vehicle seized.”
(AMcE)
The laundering plant, which was discovered in farm buildings on the outskirts of Cookstown, County Tyrone had the capacity to launder over 100,000 litres of diesel per week.
During the operation Customs officers also seized around 47,000 litres of laundered fuel and an estimated £50,000 of pumping, storage and filtration equipment.
A Customs officer described the seizure as a “significant hit” on illegal fuel trade.
In separate operations this week, Customs seized 137 vehicles detected using illegal fuel. Ten taxis in the Coleraine area and ten buses in the Larne area were among those seized, along with a number of other commercial and private vehicles.
In other province-wide operations, three filling stations and a laundered fuel-bunkering site where illegal fuel was discovered have been closed down.
A Customs spokesperson said: “We have closed down four laundering plants in as many weeks, which together had a capacity to launder in excess of 450,000 litres of diesel a week.
“With the vehicles and filling stations also caught in our recent blitz, this represents a significant hit on the illegal fuel trade.
“We have repeatedly warned motorists to think before buying cheap fuel and we are making it quite clear that we will continue to target illicit fuel use. Motorists face not only expensive repairs to their engine but risk having their vehicle seized.”
(AMcE)
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A man has been charged with 24 waste and contamination offences in Co Armagh. The 52-year-old was arrested following the discovery of a suspected fuel laundering plant at Loughcross Road in Crossmaglen. The suspected plant was found during a joint operation with the police and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on Thursday morning.
25 July 2013
Three Arrested Over Mobile Fuel Laundering Plant
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04 November 2011
Fuel Laundering Operation Hit Water Supplies
Illegal fuel laundering is doing more damage than just costing the Exchequer lost revenue. It emerged yesterday that damage in Co Tyrone, at Aughnacloy Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), was caused by by-products of a suspected fuel laundering operation - where agricultural 'red' diesel is stripped off the colouring and sold on as legitimate fuel.
Fuel Laundering Operation Hit Water Supplies
Illegal fuel laundering is doing more damage than just costing the Exchequer lost revenue. It emerged yesterday that damage in Co Tyrone, at Aughnacloy Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), was caused by by-products of a suspected fuel laundering operation - where agricultural 'red' diesel is stripped off the colouring and sold on as legitimate fuel.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
