£10,000 fines handed out in illegal fuel operation

Penalties totalling £10,000 have been issued after 20 vehicles were detected using illegal fuel in counties Tyrone and Armagh last week.

Customs multi-functional and specialist road fuel officers, along with the police, carried out the operation last Friday during which commercial and private vehicles were tested for the use of illegal fuel.

Customs anti-smuggling manager Northern Ireland Angela Fulton said: “This is part of our ongoing activity to detect the misuse of fuel across Northern Ireland.

“Illegal fuel - whether used commercially or privately - undermines honest businesses and robs the honest taxpayer of funds that should go into public services. Companies willing to use illegal fuel have an unfair advantage and are therefore making it more difficult for legitimate companies to compete.

“Enquiries are ongoing into the illegal fuel use detected. It is no longer the case that using illegal fuel is worth the risk. All companies who have commercial vehicles detected will face audit and could be liable to heavier fines in respect of previous misuse."

During the operation Customs tested vehicles in the Dungannon, Blackwatertown, Moy and Tamnamore areas of Tyrone and Armagh, detecting the illegal use of red, green and laundered diesel.

(MB/GMCG)