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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Police from Ulster and Irish Republic target smugglers in joint operation | Police from Ulster and Irish Republic target smugglers in joint operation |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| More than 300 detectives from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are carrying out a major cross-border anti-smuggling operation. | More than 300 detectives from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are carrying out a major cross-border anti-smuggling operation. |
| The focus of the searches on Wednesday morning was the North Louth-South Armagh region, which is considered the most lawless area on the island of Ireland. | The focus of the searches on Wednesday morning was the North Louth-South Armagh region, which is considered the most lawless area on the island of Ireland. |
| Three premises in the Crossmaglen area of South Armagh were searched, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. | Three premises in the Crossmaglen area of South Armagh were searched, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. |
| Around 100 PSNI officers were working alongside officials from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs with 200 Gardai deployed on the southern side of the border with members of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). | Around 100 PSNI officers were working alongside officials from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs with 200 Gardai deployed on the southern side of the border with members of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). |
| Seven houses, 10 businesses and two outhouses were searched on Wednesday morning across the south as part of Operation Loft. | Seven houses, 10 businesses and two outhouses were searched on Wednesday morning across the south as part of Operation Loft. |
| As well as locations in Louth, the Republic's security forces were looking at addresses Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Waterford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath and Tipperary. Computers, documents and bank statements were taken away. | As well as locations in Louth, the Republic's security forces were looking at addresses Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Waterford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath and Tipperary. Computers, documents and bank statements were taken away. |
| A statement from An Garda Síochána said: "Investigations conducted by CAB to date have identified significant funds being generated and laundered from the sale of laundered diesel (colour marker washed out) and stretched petrol (diluted with methanol). The profits generated from this illegal activity are significant as is the loss to the Irish exchequer. | A statement from An Garda Síochána said: "Investigations conducted by CAB to date have identified significant funds being generated and laundered from the sale of laundered diesel (colour marker washed out) and stretched petrol (diluted with methanol). The profits generated from this illegal activity are significant as is the loss to the Irish exchequer. |
| "This illegal activity has knock-on effects on legitimate businesses as well as on unsuspecting customers who have very often experienced damage to the fuel system of their vehicles (from laundered diesel) or poor return per litre of petrol. | "This illegal activity has knock-on effects on legitimate businesses as well as on unsuspecting customers who have very often experienced damage to the fuel system of their vehicles (from laundered diesel) or poor return per litre of petrol. |
| "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 continued. | "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 continued. |
| The border region is home to some of the most sophisticated smuggling gangs, some of whom are former members of the IRA's South Armagh brigade. | The border region is home to some of the most sophisticated smuggling gangs, some of whom are former members of the IRA's South Armagh brigade. |
| As well as running an illegal cheap fuel scam, these border based gangs control smuggled Chinese tobacco and vodka, which is repackaged illegally and sold as brand name spirits using fake labels. | As well as running an illegal cheap fuel scam, these border based gangs control smuggled Chinese tobacco and vodka, which is repackaged illegally and sold as brand name spirits using fake labels. |
| The crackdown comes just weeks after members of a South Armagh-based gang shot dead garda Adrian Donohoe in the Cooley area of North Louth, during a botched bank raid at a rural credit union. Gardai and the PSNI believe the prime suspects are across the border in Northern Ireland. | The crackdown comes just weeks after members of a South Armagh-based gang shot dead garda Adrian Donohoe in the Cooley area of North Louth, during a botched bank raid at a rural credit union. Gardai and the PSNI believe the prime suspects are across the border in Northern Ireland. |
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