AN OIL LAUNDERING plant has been discovered in Co Monaghan.
Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service, supported by the Garda Regional Support Unit, uncovered the plant this morning in Longfield, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
They said it had the capacity to launder approximately 15 million litres of fuel every year, with a potential loss to the Exchequer of approximately €7.5m per annum.
The oil laundry was in operation when Revenue officials carried out a search of premises, and was concealed in a curtain-sided lorry in a commercial yard.
The lorry, two 40-foot containers, two tankers, a van and 40,000 litres of laundered product were seized.
A “significant quantity” of toxic waste was also uncovered at the site.
Gardaí arrested three men, one who is in his early sixties and two who are in their mid-thirties. They men are currently being detained at Carickmacross and Castleblayney Garda stations and enquiries are continuing.
The operation was the result of surveillance activity carried out by Revenue officials and forms part of their ongoing activities to tackle fuel fraud.
Revenue said that as part of its strategy in this area, “an international search for a new fuel marker was announced by revenue authorities in Ireland and the United Kingdom last week”.
Revenue said it would like to “remind motorists and the public that they should be aware of the risks posed to their vehicles by using laundered fuel”.
It also takes much needed funds from the Exchequer; hurts legitimate trade and of course it is funding criminal activity.
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