How process works.
In the Republic fuel sold for commercial use is not taxed as heavily as that used for private use and so can be sold at a cheaper rate.
The two are differentiated by a dye that is added to commercial fuel when it enters the State. Illegal laundries such as that found yesterday simply buy commercial fuel and wash out the markers by using a variety of acids, caustic soda or filtering it through cat litter.
They then sell it on as fuel for private use at the higher price. The profit per litre is around 50 cent. This money is effectively lost to the Exchequer. Revenue usually tackles those behind oil laundries for tax offences.