A suspected delivery of illegal diesel to a Co Galway service station was intercepted by Customs officers and gardai yesterday, it has emerged.
They swooped on a Northern Ireland-registered cattle truck last evening as it was dispensing what they believed to be laundered diesel into an underground tank.
The diesel had been transported in a concealed compartment occupying the full length of the vehicle and had a capacity of around 6,500 litres.
Some 8,600 litres of fuel was removed from the premises and the cattle truck and a car which it is suspected was being used to assist in the delivery were also seized.
Two men were questioned about the discovery.
There was similar incident in Co Donegal two weeks ago when a lorry with a false floor and 6,000 litres of fuel was detained.
A Revenue spokesman said: "Laundering or 'washing' of red or green diesel defrauds the state of excise duty and VAT.
People also need to be aware of the environmental and safety issues surrounding the laundering of diesel. They need to consider what happens to the waste by-product and the damage caused by contamination to arable land and our waters and rivers.
Chemicals used during the laundering process remain in the oil and can cause severe damage over a period to vehicle engines and fuel pumps."
He urged members of the public to report any suspicions of fuel misuse.