Four people have been arrested today in connection with a major cross-border investigation into fuel laundering.
Thousands of litres of fuel were also seized from fillings stations an oil laundering plant uncovered during the operation which involved the Garda Siochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Criminal Assets Bureau and Revenue's Customs Service.
In co-ordinated operations in counties Roscommon, Galway, Offaly, Westmeath and Dublin, a total of 48,350 litres of laundered fuel was seized during searches of five filling stations.
In Roscommon, 4,700 litres of fuel was discovered while in Loughrea, Co Galway, 6,150 litres were seized. In Birr, Co. Offaly, some 17,000 litres of laundered fuel was discovered while in Athlone, officers seized 11,500 litres of fuel. A further 9,000 litres of laundered fuel was seized at a filling station in the Rathfarnham area of Dublin.
In a simultaneous and co-ordinated operation in Corrygarry, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, Customs Officers supported by An Garda Siochána uncovered a significant oil laundering plant. The plant had the capacity to launder an estimated 18 million litres of fuel per annum with a potential loss to the Exchequer of €9 million per annum. A laundering operation was under way at the time.
Customs Officers seized 95,000 litres of product at the site. Three tankers in which the product was held were also seized as well as two transit vans, a box lorry, a 40 foot tanker and an articulated lorry with a combined value of €55,000.
In Armagh and Tyrone, HM Revenue and Customs supported by the PSNI, executed search warrants at four addresses.
Four men are being questioned in connection with the operation. One man aged in his 20s and a second in his 30s are currently detained at Monaghan Garda station. Two men aged in their 40s are also being held at Tullamore and Roscommon Garda stations.
All four men are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Investigations are ongoing.