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| Major cross-border operation against illegal fuel trade | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Customs officials and police from Northern Ireland are involved in a huge cross-border operation against illegal fuel laundering and organised crime. | Customs officials and police from Northern Ireland are involved in a huge cross-border operation against illegal fuel laundering and organised crime. |
| More than 300 staff are involved in the operation, including more than 100 personnel from Northern Ireland. | More than 300 staff are involved in the operation, including more than 100 personnel from Northern Ireland. |
| It is being led by the Irish Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). | It is being led by the Irish Republic's Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). |
| The searches, in 10 Irish counties, are connected to a south Armagh/north Louth criminal gang with republican links. | |
| On Wednesday morning, 19 raids were carried out in Louth, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Waterford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath and Tipperary. | |
| Ten businesses, seven houses and two warehouses were searched. | Ten businesses, seven houses and two warehouses were searched. |
| The investigation, known as Operation Loft, is being conducted jointly with the Republic's Office of the Revenue Commissioners and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). | The investigation, known as Operation Loft, is being conducted jointly with the Republic's Office of the Revenue Commissioners and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). |
| For economic reasons farmers and some industries get diesel considerably cheaper than road users. | |
| A red dye is put in the discounted fuel in Northern Ireland and green in the Republic. | |
| The launderers remove the dye and sell their now colourless diesel to some garages, who in turn sell it on to motorists often at at prices cheaper than in legitimate garages even though it can damage the cars and vehicles of those who, unsuspectingly, use it. | |
| The process of removing the dye causes creates a toxic sludge that is often found in containers dumped in border areas. | |
| So, diesel laundering has both environmental, business, and economic costs. | |
| It is being supported by the Garda (Irish police) Air Support Unit and the Air Corps and special police units on both sides of the border. | It is being supported by the Garda (Irish police) Air Support Unit and the Air Corps and special police units on both sides of the border. |
| BBC Northern Ireland's Dublin correspondent, Shane Harrison, said fuel launderers could make millions from the illegal trade and deprive hard-pressed Irish taxpayers of those same millions. | |
| In a statement, the gardai said the investigation is focused on the suspected involvement of an organised crime group based in County Louth. | In a statement, the gardai said the investigation is focused on the suspected involvement of an organised crime group based in County Louth. |
| "The objectives of the operation are to seize evidence of assets deriving from oil fraud and money laundering, seize and dismantle illegal oil operations, seize cash or other assets including vehicles used in the criminal activity and to freeze bank accounts," the statement added. | "The objectives of the operation are to seize evidence of assets deriving from oil fraud and money laundering, seize and dismantle illegal oil operations, seize cash or other assets including vehicles used in the criminal activity and to freeze bank accounts," the statement added. |