HMRC shuts down large-scale illegal fuel sites
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CUSTOMS OFFICERS have dismantled two major diesel-laundering facilities, capable of producing almost 10 million litres of illegal fuel a year, which they claim had the potential to be used by hauliers.
Following a raid at a private address in Moy, Co Tyrone, HM Revenue & Customs (1-1MRC) officers seized two 25,000-litre tanks, pumping equipment and a quantity of bleaching agent along with 2,000-litres of laundered fuel.
Officers say the facility had the potential to produce more than nine million litres of illegal fuel per annum and evade almost £6m in duty. A man was arrested and questioned. Hauliers caught illegally using red diesel for their vehicles risk having them seized, or in more serious cases forfeited, with the possibility of an unlimited fine together with a jail sentence of up to two years.
Meanwhile, another diesel-laundering plant capable of producing 750,000 litres of illicit fuel a year was dismantled by officers after a raid on commercial premises in a rural area of Netherburn, Lanarkshire.
They uncovered a 20ft container being used to launder red diesel as well as 8,000 litres of fuel. A man was questioned in connection with the laundering operation and investigations are continuing, Michael Connolly, assistant director at HMRC specialist investigations, says: "These seizures have prevented a significant quantity of illicit fuel from entering the market."