Toxic Waste From Fuel Plant Uncovered

A man has been arrested and over 18 tonnes of toxic waste uncovered after the discovery of a diesel laundering plant in Co Antrim earlier this week by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

HMRC, assisted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), searched a shed located on residential premises in the Crumlin area.

The toxic waste - the residue of the laundering process was removed from the site along with a quantity of bleaching agent, over 18,000 litres of illicit fuel, a number of vehicles, tanks and equipment.

It is thought that the illegal plant was capable of producing over 6.2 million litres of illicit fuel a year, evading over £4m of duty.

John Whiting, Assistant Director, HMRC Criminal Investigation, said: "People need to be aware of the environmental and safety issues surrounding the laundering of fuel.

"Indiscriminate dumping of the by-products from the laundering process can cause severe damage to the environment, as well as taxpayers and local ratepayers having to pay for the clean up and disposal costs.

"Handling large quantities of any fuel is risky, and should only be done in appropriate conditions, certainly not in residential surroundings," he said.

"We continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF), including the PSNI to stop the damage this criminal activity causes, both to our communities, to local businesses and the environment, noting that the man has been released on bail and investigations are continuing as part of the campaign against the use of laundered fuel."

This is red (or green) diesel, which has been filtered through chemicals or acids to remove the government marker. The chemicals and acids remain in the fuel and damage fuel pumps in diesel cars.

Red diesel is marked gas oil or a rebated fuel for use in agricultural machinery and not for use in road vehicles. Green diesel is the Republic of Ireland equivalent of the UK's red diesel.

(BMcC/GK)