07/06/2002
Customs and Police crack down on fuel fraudsters
Fines totalling more than £18,000 were imposed by customs and police officers yesterday on motorists during a series of roadside checks for the illegal use of laundered and rebated fuel.
The fines given to 30 vehicles seized in the Maghera and Ballymoney areas were imposed for the return of their vehicles.
Officers also carried out searches at a service station and an associated fuel-bunkering site in the Lurgan area. A total of 12,000 litres of laundered diesel and 3,000 litres of petrol were seized. In addition 3,000 litres of illegal fuel was removed from another site and a tanker containing 20,000 litres of fuel was detained.
Though no arrests were made, Customs officers said their enquiries were ongoing.
A Customs spokesperson said: “There is evidence that this laundered diesel, which can damage vehicle engines, also poisons catalytic converters. This can cause the vehicles to fail the new style omission tests.
“Fuel fraudsters are not particular about the damage they may be causing to their customers’ vehicles and drivers may not be aware until it is too late.
“With the recent increase in Customs officers, close working with the police and other agencies and the establishment of the Organised Crime Task Force, we believe that Government action has slowed the growth of oils fraud.”
(AMcE)
The fines given to 30 vehicles seized in the Maghera and Ballymoney areas were imposed for the return of their vehicles.
Officers also carried out searches at a service station and an associated fuel-bunkering site in the Lurgan area. A total of 12,000 litres of laundered diesel and 3,000 litres of petrol were seized. In addition 3,000 litres of illegal fuel was removed from another site and a tanker containing 20,000 litres of fuel was detained.
Though no arrests were made, Customs officers said their enquiries were ongoing.
A Customs spokesperson said: “There is evidence that this laundered diesel, which can damage vehicle engines, also poisons catalytic converters. This can cause the vehicles to fail the new style omission tests.
“Fuel fraudsters are not particular about the damage they may be causing to their customers’ vehicles and drivers may not be aware until it is too late.
“With the recent increase in Customs officers, close working with the police and other agencies and the establishment of the Organised Crime Task Force, we believe that Government action has slowed the growth of oils fraud.”
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.