Londonderry man arrested in fuel raid

Three men from counties Antrim and Londonderry were arrested and a mobile fuel laundering plant was seized by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

HMRC officers, assisted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, carried out searches at a commercial yard in Co Antrim, where they uncovered the plant capable of producing 4.3 million litres of illicit fuel a year.

Officers removed two large tanks chained to the inside of the trailer along with pumps and equipment used in the laundering process. Almost two and a half tonnes of toxic waste and 4,000 litres of red diesel were also recovered after searches of sheds in the yard.

John Whiting, Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “Fuel tankers are designed to transport fuel safely.

“These tanks carrying diesel were simply chained to the trailer, showing a total disregard for other road users and posing an enormous public safety risk.”