Northern Ireland fuel laundering linked to Tilbury docks container death
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Version 0 of 1. Police in Northern Ireland are linking a people-smuggling operation in which a Sikh asylum seeker died with a suspected illegal fuel plant in County Tyrone. The PSNI raided the alleged fuel-laundering site in Coalisland as part of a wider investigation with Essex police into the death of Meet Singh Kapoor from Afghanistan, whose body was found in a container at Tilbury docks last month. The dead man was one of 35 people from Afghanistan, including 15 children, found at the Essex port on 16 August. A man from Dungannon was arrested on Friday on Merseyside in connection with the inquiry. He is one of three men from Northern Ireland who have been detained and charged in connection with the death of Kapoor. DI Kenneth Roy from PSNI's organised crime branch confirmed that police carried out a search of premises in County Tyrone on Friday and found a suspected fuel-laundering plant as well as 1350 litres of illegal fuel. Officers from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) were called in to assist the operation and dismantle the site. "It is thought that this facility was capable of producing 1,000 litres of illicit fuel per day," Roy added. The latest man to be detained is due to be transferred into the custody of Essex police. Two other men also charged in connection with the death remain in custody to appear at Basildon crown court in November. A 34-year-old from Limavady, Londonderry, and another aged 33, of Elmgrove, Londonderry, have already been charged with conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK. The Afghan refugees were discovered after dock workers at Tilbury heard banging and screaming coming from one of the containers. Those found inside were taken to hospital, with many suffering from the effects of severe dehydration and hypothermia. They are all in the care of the Home Office after being discharged from hospital and questioned by police. They are seeking asylum in the UK claiming they are being persecuted for being a religious minority. |