Seizures of Kerosene in Donegal on 21 January 2004
Officers from Revenue's Customs Service yesterday (21/01/04) raided a business premises in Raphoe, Co. Donegal and seized two Northern Ireland registered vans containing 2,000 litres of Northern Ireland home heating oil, an electrical pump and ancillary equipment. The man found delivering the oil was questioned and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The detection resulted from ongoing anti-smuggling operations and involved officers following the contraband from the border.
A Revenue spokesman said:
'We are delighted with this latest success by our Customs officers in Donegal. We have committed extra resources to this type of work and it's clearly paying off.'
Additional Information
Home heating oil is cheaper in Northern Ireland, hence the incentive to smuggle it.
Customs Officers are able to detect this oil using roadside testing equipment which identifies the invisible chemical marker in the oil. When this prohibited oil is detected, even in small quantities, Customs officers are empowered to seize it and any conveyance and equipment used with it.
Revenue has committed extra resources to examination of heating oil and farm diesel. Officers are authorised to examine mineral oil on any premises, including private dwellings, take samples and detain the oil if necessary.
Illicit sales are normally made from unmarked vans which have the oil stored in plastic pods containing approximately 1,000 litres each. Of course, there is no guarantee of quality or quantity with these sales.