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02/09/2011
All-Ireland Co-Operation Targets Fuel Gangs
It emerged last night that 11 businesses and homes have been searched in cross-border raids targeting fuel fraud and money laundering.
Cross border, inter-agency co-operation has been shown to be at its highest level for some time with news that a laundering plant capable of producing 18 million litres of illicit fuel a year was dismantled in Co Monaghan.
It was uncovered in sheds a short distance from a minor road between Castleblayney and Crossmaglen.
In all, four people - one of them from Northern Ireland and the rest from the Irish Republic - have been arrested.
It all happened on foot of a major all-Ireland operation to tackle suspected fuel fraud and money laundering and saw the various commercial and private addresses raided yesterday morning in counties Armagh, Tyrone, Galway, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath and Dublin.
Officers from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) supported by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) executed search warrants at five addresses in counties Tyrone and Armagh.
At the same time, as part of ongoing investigations into organised criminal activity, officers from the Garda's Organised Crime Unit, NBCI, Criminal Assets Bureau, Revenue Customs Service also swooped.
They were supported by the Emergency Response Unit, and Gardaí from Divisional Units in the Northern and Western Regions including Regional Support Units.
The Irish police said that, during the operation a search was carried out at Corragarry, Casteblaney, Co Monaghan where the large fuel laundering plant was uncovered.
Gardaí also undertook searches were also carried out at five filling stations in counties Galway, Offaly, Dublin, Westmeath, and Roscommon at the same time.
Gardaí arrested four men with one man, aged in his 20s and a second in his 30s, detained at Monaghan Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Two men aged in their 40s were also detained at Tullamore and Roscommon Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
The police said that during the operation approximately 140,000 litres of laundered fuel was seized.
This multi agency cross border investigation relates to excise evasion, money laundering and other offences surrounding the laundering and sale of green diesel through a number of rented retail garage outlets.
Bob Gaiger, HMRC Spokesperson said: "Serious and organised criminals are increasingly sophisticated, and the measures they use to avoid detection are increasingly complex.
"They are attacking the tax system in many different ways with the aim of stealing huge amounts of revenue.
"The operation shows that those who think they can use the border as a way to commit crime or hide their criminal proceeds and escape justice, need to think again," he said, last night.
"Our response through the Cross Border Fuel Fraud Enforcement Group (CBFFEG) is to ensure we are targeting those individuals and groups doing most harm in our communities.
"By making better use of existing tools and working together more effectively, we will disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups and their activities.
"Fuel fraud is not a victimless crime and by working together in partnership with our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland as part of the cross border group we will use the full array of sanctions at our disposal against those engaged in the illicit supply or commercial misuse of fuel, in order to recover lost revenues and prevent fraud recurring," he added.
Keeping Pressure Up
Last month, a laundering plant with the capacity to produce more than two million litres of illicit diesel a year and evade £1.3m in excise duty per annum was uncovered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in Co Down.
HMRC, accompanied by the PSNI, raided commercial premises in Banbridge in August and seized 6,000 litres of fuel and a commercial vehicle and dismantled the laundering equipment on site.
It was estimated that the plant could have produced 6,000 litres of illegally laundered fuel a day, or 2.19 million litres a year.
(BMcC/GK)
Cross border, inter-agency co-operation has been shown to be at its highest level for some time with news that a laundering plant capable of producing 18 million litres of illicit fuel a year was dismantled in Co Monaghan.
It was uncovered in sheds a short distance from a minor road between Castleblayney and Crossmaglen.
In all, four people - one of them from Northern Ireland and the rest from the Irish Republic - have been arrested.
It all happened on foot of a major all-Ireland operation to tackle suspected fuel fraud and money laundering and saw the various commercial and private addresses raided yesterday morning in counties Armagh, Tyrone, Galway, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath and Dublin.
Officers from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) supported by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) executed search warrants at five addresses in counties Tyrone and Armagh.
At the same time, as part of ongoing investigations into organised criminal activity, officers from the Garda's Organised Crime Unit, NBCI, Criminal Assets Bureau, Revenue Customs Service also swooped.
They were supported by the Emergency Response Unit, and Gardaí from Divisional Units in the Northern and Western Regions including Regional Support Units.
The Irish police said that, during the operation a search was carried out at Corragarry, Casteblaney, Co Monaghan where the large fuel laundering plant was uncovered.
Gardaí also undertook searches were also carried out at five filling stations in counties Galway, Offaly, Dublin, Westmeath, and Roscommon at the same time.
Gardaí arrested four men with one man, aged in his 20s and a second in his 30s, detained at Monaghan Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Two men aged in their 40s were also detained at Tullamore and Roscommon Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
The police said that during the operation approximately 140,000 litres of laundered fuel was seized.
This multi agency cross border investigation relates to excise evasion, money laundering and other offences surrounding the laundering and sale of green diesel through a number of rented retail garage outlets.
Bob Gaiger, HMRC Spokesperson said: "Serious and organised criminals are increasingly sophisticated, and the measures they use to avoid detection are increasingly complex.
"They are attacking the tax system in many different ways with the aim of stealing huge amounts of revenue.
"The operation shows that those who think they can use the border as a way to commit crime or hide their criminal proceeds and escape justice, need to think again," he said, last night.
"Our response through the Cross Border Fuel Fraud Enforcement Group (CBFFEG) is to ensure we are targeting those individuals and groups doing most harm in our communities.
"By making better use of existing tools and working together more effectively, we will disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups and their activities.
"Fuel fraud is not a victimless crime and by working together in partnership with our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland as part of the cross border group we will use the full array of sanctions at our disposal against those engaged in the illicit supply or commercial misuse of fuel, in order to recover lost revenues and prevent fraud recurring," he added.
Keeping Pressure Up
Last month, a laundering plant with the capacity to produce more than two million litres of illicit diesel a year and evade £1.3m in excise duty per annum was uncovered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in Co Down.
HMRC, accompanied by the PSNI, raided commercial premises in Banbridge in August and seized 6,000 litres of fuel and a commercial vehicle and dismantled the laundering equipment on site.
It was estimated that the plant could have produced 6,000 litres of illegally laundered fuel a day, or 2.19 million litres a year.
(BMcC/GK)
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Three men have been arrested in relation to the seizure of a mobile fuel laundering plant at the docks in Belfast on Wednesday. HMRC officers, accompanied by police, carried out searches and uncovered the plant, which can produce 4.3 million litres of illicit fuel a year.
17 August 2011
Fuel Laundering Plant 'Decommissioned'
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Fuel Laundering Plant 'Decommissioned'
An illicit plant with the capacity to produce more than two million litres of fraudulent diesel a year and evade £1.3m in excise duty per annum has been uncovered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in Co Down. The laundering unit was targeted by HMRC, accompanied by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
06 March 2015
Man Charged Over Suspected Fuel Laundering Plant In Co Armagh
A man has been charged with 24 waste and contamination offences in Co Armagh. The 52-year-old was arrested following the discovery of a suspected fuel laundering plant at Loughcross Road in Crossmaglen. The suspected plant was found during a joint operation with the police and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on Thursday morning.
Man Charged Over Suspected Fuel Laundering Plant In Co Armagh
A man has been charged with 24 waste and contamination offences in Co Armagh. The 52-year-old was arrested following the discovery of a suspected fuel laundering plant at Loughcross Road in Crossmaglen. The suspected plant was found during a joint operation with the police and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on Thursday morning.
04 November 2011
Fuel Laundering Operation Hit Water Supplies
Illegal fuel laundering is doing more damage than just costing the Exchequer lost revenue. It emerged yesterday that damage in Co Tyrone, at Aughnacloy Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), was caused by by-products of a suspected fuel laundering operation - where agricultural 'red' diesel is stripped off the colouring and sold on as legitimate fuel.
Fuel Laundering Operation Hit Water Supplies
Illegal fuel laundering is doing more damage than just costing the Exchequer lost revenue. It emerged yesterday that damage in Co Tyrone, at Aughnacloy Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW), was caused by by-products of a suspected fuel laundering operation - where agricultural 'red' diesel is stripped off the colouring and sold on as legitimate fuel.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
