Fuel and cash seized in laundering crackdown
Two petrol stations were closed and almost 160,000 litres of fuel seized during a nationwide crackdown on laundered fuel and the shadow economy.
The operation by Revenue’s customs officers and armed gardaí also resulted in the seizure of €39,000 under the Proceeds of Crime legislation.
Raids were carried out yesterday on 10 filling stations, two private residences and a fuel depot in counties Dublin, Galway and Louth.
Officers, tackling the illegal trade in mineral oils and shadow economy activity, targeted the sale of laundered fuel, unlicensed trading and other tax offences.
Revenue revealed approximately 20,000 litres of fuel were seized at two filling stations in Dublin targeted for illegal trading and closed down.
Some 136,000 litres of fuel was seized from a fuel depot in Co Louth, with 19,500 litres of fuel contained within a tanker detained in a filling station in Co Louth, and 2,660 litres of fuel seized from an illegally trading filling station in Dublin.
Elsewhere €8,000 was discovered in a private residence in Co Galway and €31,000 detained in a house in Co Louth.
A Revenue spokeswoman said the illegal trade in mineral oils, and oil laundering in particular, represent a serious threat to the Exchequer.
“Action against this illegality is therefore a key priority for Revenue,” said a spokeswoman.
“Revenue would like to remind motorists and the public that they should be aware of the risks posed to their vehicles by using laundered fuel.
“It also takes much needed funds from the Exchequer; hurts legitimate trade and of course it is funding criminal activity.”
