Customs Detain Laundered Fuel in Galway
Officers from Revenue's Customs Service based in Galway, assisted by members of the Gardai Siochana, discovered a Northern Ireland-registered cattle truck delivering what is suspected to be laundered or washed diesel to a retail service station in East Galway yesterday evening (Friday 8th February) at around 6.30pm.
The cattle truck had a concealed compartment occupying the full length of the vehicle capable of carrying around 6,500 litres. When officers entered the premises the suspected laundered fuel was being discharged from the cattle truck into an underground tank. Two men found on the premises were questioned.
Officers removed from the premises 8,600 litres of fuel, the cattle truck and a car which it is suspected was being used to assist in the delivery.
A similar detection was discovered in Donegal two weeks earlier when a lorry with a false floor and 6,000 litres of fuel was detained.
A Revenue spokesman said: "Laundering or 'washing' of red or green diesel defrauds the state of excise duty and VAT. People also need to be aware of the environmental and safety issues surrounding the laundering of diesel. They need to consider what happens to the waste by-product and the damage caused by contamination to arable land and our waters and rivers. Chemicals used during the laundering process remain in the oil and can cause severe damage over a period to vehicle engines and fuel pumps. We urge members of the public to contact their nearest Revenue office if they know of any fuel misuse or suspicious activity in their area".
[Ends: 09/02/2008]