A huge Garda and Revenue operation continued yesterday following a raid by armed officers on an illegal fuel-laundering plant at a premises a few hundred yards from the Border, at Longfield, Co Monaghan.
The oil-laundering plant had the capacity to launder about 15 million litres of fuel per annum, estimated to represent a potential loss to the exchequer of about €7.5 million per annum.
According to the Revenue, the oil laundry, which was in operation when gardaí and Revenue officials carried out a search of premises, was hidden in a curtain-sided lorry situated in a commercial yard.
The lorry, two 40ft containers, two tankers, a van and 40,000 litres of laundered fuel were seized. A significant quantity of toxic waste was also uncovered at the site.
Gardaí arrested three men who were detained at Carickmacross and Castleblayney Garda stations.
The operation was the result of surveillance carried out by the Revenue as part of its ongoing activities designed to tackle fuel fraud.
