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06/02/2006
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.
HMRC officers, who were assisted by the police, visited the three plants on Friday and dismantled two sophisticated fuel laundering plants uncovered in farm buildings and dealt with a third, mobile plant.
During their searches, around 30,000 litres of contaminated fuel was seized along with a fuel tanker, pumps and filtration and storage equipment.
In addition 5,000 litres of sulphuric acid and 7,000 litres of toxic contaminated sludge, the hazardous chemical residue of the laundering process, were cleared from the sites.
HMRC Head of Detection Northern Ireland, Colin McAllister said: "Customs officers have stopped a substantial amount of harmful diesel from damaging engines and affecting honest businesses. If these sophisticated operations to illegally remove the chemical markers in duty-rebated fuel had not been shut down, it would have meant an annual revenue loss of around £2,250,000. This is revenue that should be going to our schools and hospitals, not into the pockets of a few individuals."
Mr McAllister continued by saying that people have to be made aware of the potential environmental damage caused by illegal chemical waste being dumped in the countryside, and the effects the contamination will have if it reaches arable land and rivers.
He added: "I would urge members of the public if they know of any fuel misuse or suspicious activities, please call the HMRC confidential free phone on 0800 59 5000."
During another operation last week to tackle illegal fuel fraud, the HMRC seized 26,000 litres of diesel from storage tanks at oil distribution premises on the Dundalk Road, Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh.
Two fuel tankers containing 1,900 litres of diesel fuel were also found, along with 21,600 litres of green diesel.
Two lorries, which had been adapted to conceal tanks for the transport of illegal fuel, were also seized.
(EF/SP)
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.
HMRC officers, who were assisted by the police, visited the three plants on Friday and dismantled two sophisticated fuel laundering plants uncovered in farm buildings and dealt with a third, mobile plant.
During their searches, around 30,000 litres of contaminated fuel was seized along with a fuel tanker, pumps and filtration and storage equipment.
In addition 5,000 litres of sulphuric acid and 7,000 litres of toxic contaminated sludge, the hazardous chemical residue of the laundering process, were cleared from the sites.
HMRC Head of Detection Northern Ireland, Colin McAllister said: "Customs officers have stopped a substantial amount of harmful diesel from damaging engines and affecting honest businesses. If these sophisticated operations to illegally remove the chemical markers in duty-rebated fuel had not been shut down, it would have meant an annual revenue loss of around £2,250,000. This is revenue that should be going to our schools and hospitals, not into the pockets of a few individuals."
Mr McAllister continued by saying that people have to be made aware of the potential environmental damage caused by illegal chemical waste being dumped in the countryside, and the effects the contamination will have if it reaches arable land and rivers.
He added: "I would urge members of the public if they know of any fuel misuse or suspicious activities, please call the HMRC confidential free phone on 0800 59 5000."
During another operation last week to tackle illegal fuel fraud, the HMRC seized 26,000 litres of diesel from storage tanks at oil distribution premises on the Dundalk Road, Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh.
Two fuel tankers containing 1,900 litres of diesel fuel were also found, along with 21,600 litres of green diesel.
Two lorries, which had been adapted to conceal tanks for the transport of illegal fuel, were also seized.
(EF/SP)
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