Vehicles seized in Lisburn linked to fuel laundering plant

Three men were arrested by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) following the discovery of 2,000 litres of laundered fuel last week.

The vehicles were stopped by the PSNI and seized by HMRC officers on Tuesday, August 13. As part of this investigation a small laundering plant, capable of producing around 1,000 litres of laundered fuel a week, was dismantled by officers from HMRC and the PSNI.

The laundering plant was found in a shed in Coalisland.

John Whiting, Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “HMRC takes very seriously the unfair and illegal practice of selling laundered fuel.

“Its production and the waste products from the laundering process can cause considerable damage to the environment and creates an unfair playing field for legitimate businesses.

“Buying illicit fuel not only funds crime but supports and encourages these dangerous activities within our communities.”