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20/11/2001
Customs officers seize 6,000 litres of illegal fuel
Northern Ireland Customs and Excise officers have seized 6,000 litres of illegal fuel in an operation near Larne.
Customs officers raided three separate businesses premises at an industrial complex south of Larne on Tuesday November 20 and seized 3,000 litres of laundered ‘red’ diesel, 2,000 litres of smuggled diesel, around 1,000 litres of adulterated fuel and two Heavy Goods Vehicles.
A Customs officer said if the smuggled fuel had gone onto the market the total loss in duty would have been £4,000. He also said: “This shows that Customs are serious about tackling fuel laundering, which damages not only honest businesses, but your vehicle’s engine as well.
“We have repeatedly warned motorists to think before buying cheap fuel. Unless you buy your fuel at a legitimate filling station you can expect mechanical problems. It’s not a matter of if, but when.”
Red diesel is marked gas oil or a rebated fuel for using in agricultural machinery and not for use in road vehicles.
In order to launder the red diesel the fuel is either filtered through chemicals or bleached with acid to remove the government red dye marker. Chemicals or acids present in the fuel can damage fuel pumps in diesel cars. (AMcE)
Customs officers raided three separate businesses premises at an industrial complex south of Larne on Tuesday November 20 and seized 3,000 litres of laundered ‘red’ diesel, 2,000 litres of smuggled diesel, around 1,000 litres of adulterated fuel and two Heavy Goods Vehicles.
A Customs officer said if the smuggled fuel had gone onto the market the total loss in duty would have been £4,000. He also said: “This shows that Customs are serious about tackling fuel laundering, which damages not only honest businesses, but your vehicle’s engine as well.
“We have repeatedly warned motorists to think before buying cheap fuel. Unless you buy your fuel at a legitimate filling station you can expect mechanical problems. It’s not a matter of if, but when.”
Red diesel is marked gas oil or a rebated fuel for using in agricultural machinery and not for use in road vehicles.
In order to launder the red diesel the fuel is either filtered through chemicals or bleached with acid to remove the government red dye marker. Chemicals or acids present in the fuel can damage fuel pumps in diesel cars. (AMcE)
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Fuel laundering plants discovered in Armagh
HM Revenue & Customs have discovered three fuel-laundering plants in South Armagh. The illegal operations near Cullyhanna had the combined capacity to produce 80,000 litres of laundered fuel per week with an estimated loss of revenue of over £2 million per year.
Fuel laundering plants discovered in Armagh
HM Revenue & Customs have discovered three fuel-laundering plants in South Armagh. The illegal operations near Cullyhanna had the combined capacity to produce 80,000 litres of laundered fuel per week with an estimated loss of revenue of over £2 million per year.
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Gas Price Hike 'Fuels Winter Woes'
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Gas Price Hike 'Fuels Winter Woes'
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Customs seize five fuel tankers in Belfast
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23 July 2004
Customs shut down Coalisland fuel laundering operation
Customs officers last night dismantled a fuel laundering plant at an industrial site in Co Tyrone. The plant, which was discovered in Coalisland, was capable of processing 25,000 litres of fuel per week. Around 6,700 litres of contaminated diesel, along with a van, tanks, pumps and filtration and storage equipment were removed during the operation.
Customs shut down Coalisland fuel laundering operation
Customs officers last night dismantled a fuel laundering plant at an industrial site in Co Tyrone. The plant, which was discovered in Coalisland, was capable of processing 25,000 litres of fuel per week. Around 6,700 litres of contaminated diesel, along with a van, tanks, pumps and filtration and storage equipment were removed during the operation.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with clear skies this evening. Patchy cloud will increase at times overnight, but some clear spells too. Light winds and some patchy shallow mist or fog towards dawn. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
