Man charged over fuel smuggling scam
A Northern Ireland man has been charged in connection with a £5m (€7.4m) cross border fuel smuggling scam, it emerged tonight.
The 52-year-old Armagh man was accused of laundering the proceeds of the fraud.
The arrest followed a cross border operation involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland and agencies in the Irish republic.
Customs officers searched domestic and business premises in Armagh yesterday, seizing an estimated €97,050 during the raid.
In a co-ordinated operation in the Republic, officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau carried out searches in Co Monaghan.
Customs head of Investigation, Jane Salt said the latest operation highlighted the commitment to tackling oils fraud in Northern Ireland.
“Money is the lifeblood of serious and organised crime and this action will have disrupted a number of criminal enterprises in Northern Ireland.
“Customs attach a high priority to tackling excise frauds that undermine legitimate businesses and rob the honest taxpayer of funds which should go into public services,” she added.
The accused is due to appear at Armagh Magistrates Court next Tuesday charged with laundering the proceeds of fuel fraud.
