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Raid on fuel and bottling plant Raid on fuel and bottling plant
(19 minutes later)
An illegal alcohol bottling and fuel laundering plant has been raided near Meigh in south Armagh.An illegal alcohol bottling and fuel laundering plant has been raided near Meigh in south Armagh.
HM Revenue and Customs officers with support from the police took part in the searches on Tuesday.HM Revenue and Customs officers with support from the police took part in the searches on Tuesday.
Diesel fuel-laundering equipment along with a contraband bottling operation were found. Three men have been arrested in connection with the raid.Diesel fuel-laundering equipment along with a contraband bottling operation were found. Three men have been arrested in connection with the raid.
It is the second significant fuel-laundering operation to be discovered near the border in recent weeks.It is the second significant fuel-laundering operation to be discovered near the border in recent weeks.
HMRC said the plant was capable of producing about one million litres of illicit diesel a year, with an estimated annual revenue loss of £2m. HMRC said the plant was capable of producing about two million litres of illicit diesel a year, with an estimated annual revenue loss of £1m.
Two 40ft trailers with concealed chambers, a number of other vehicles and 24,000 litres of toxic waste were removed from the site, along with 10 tonnes of filtration agent and 35,000 litres of fuel.Two 40ft trailers with concealed chambers, a number of other vehicles and 24,000 litres of toxic waste were removed from the site, along with 10 tonnes of filtration agent and 35,000 litres of fuel.
During the searches, HMRC also found almost 2,500 empty vodka bottles along with machinery, caps and labels, believed to be part of a counterfeit alcohol bottling plant.During the searches, HMRC also found almost 2,500 empty vodka bottles along with machinery, caps and labels, believed to be part of a counterfeit alcohol bottling plant.
John Whiting, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, for HMRC in Northern Ireland said those behind the plant showed a "total disregard for the economic and environmental well-being of our communities with personal profit the sole motivation".John Whiting, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, for HMRC in Northern Ireland said those behind the plant showed a "total disregard for the economic and environmental well-being of our communities with personal profit the sole motivation".
"HMRC takes the dangerous and illegal practice of laundering fuel very seriously," he said."HMRC takes the dangerous and illegal practice of laundering fuel very seriously," he said.
"People need to be aware of the environmental and safety issues surrounding the laundering of fuel, which is often done in rural locations."People need to be aware of the environmental and safety issues surrounding the laundering of fuel, which is often done in rural locations.
"Indiscriminate dumping of the by-products from the laundering process can cause severe damage to arable land and our water systems, as well as taxpayers and local ratepayers having to pay for the clean-up and disposal costs.""Indiscriminate dumping of the by-products from the laundering process can cause severe damage to arable land and our water systems, as well as taxpayers and local ratepayers having to pay for the clean-up and disposal costs."
"We are reminding people not to buy alcohol from any unlicensed source or location or at what seem like bargain prices, as it is likely to be illicit and spirits could be counterfeit and harmful, even lethal.""We are reminding people not to buy alcohol from any unlicensed source or location or at what seem like bargain prices, as it is likely to be illicit and spirits could be counterfeit and harmful, even lethal."
Two of the men being questioned are from County Down and the other one is from County Armagh.Two of the men being questioned are from County Down and the other one is from County Armagh.