Fuel laundering plant discovered near Cookstown

A FUEL laundering plant has been dismantled by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) during an operation in Tyrone.

Yesterday (November 4), a mobile fuel laundering plant was discovered on the back of 40-foot trailer parked at the rear of a church in the Cookstown area.

HMRC officers, along with the PSNI, searched the trailer and seized a tank used to launder red diesel, bags of laundering agent and 20 thousand-litre plastic tanks.

No arrests were made at the scene.

Steve Tracey, assistant director of the fraud investigation service at HMRC, said, “We remain alert to the methods criminals are using in their attempts to remove government markers from rebated fuel. We will continue to work with our Organised Crime Task Force partners to tackle this crime, one we are determined to detect and put an end to.

“Fuel launderers have always posed a serious risk to the public, by building illicit fuel sites, abandoning harmful waste and transporting fuel in vehicles that are unfit for purpose and unsafe. This illegal activity is endangering to the environment, local community and habitat.”

A total of 600 litres of laundered diesel, 10,300 litres of red diesel, 53 bags of bleaching earth and 12,500 litres of fuel laundering waste were discovered at an Armagh site and seized by HMRC during a separate operation.

Mr Tracey added, “Buying illicit fuel funds crime and supports and encourages these dangerous activities. I would urge anyone with information on fuel misuse in their area to report it to HMRC online or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Investigations are continuing into both sites.