Working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), HMRC uncovered the fuel laundering plants in Armagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. Together they could have evaded an estimated £34m in taxes and duty every year.
An illegal filling station or “huckster” site was also dismantled last Thursday (6th June) by HMRC as part of ongoing operations to tackle commercial fuel tax evasion across Northern Ireland.
HMRC, assisted by PSNI officers, removed the huckster site from waste ground in West Belfast and seized almost 3,000 litres of suspected illicit fuel. Fuel storage tanks, a pump, a portable office and a storage container were also removed.
John Whiting, assistant director of Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: ‘Our activity over the last few weeks has stopped a large amount of laundered fuel entering the legitimate market, preventing further revenue loss and helping our legitimate traders fight unfair competition.
‘Buying illicit fuel not only funds crime, it supports and encourages these dangerous activities within our communities. If anyone has information about fuel fraud in their area we would encourage them to contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.’
Justice Minister, David Ford, added: ‘I offer my congratulations, as chair of the Organised Crime Task Force, to both HMRC and PSNI for their successes in recent weeks tackling the scourge of fuel laundering.
‘People need to realise that by buying illegal fuel, while they may be saving a few pounds, they could potentially be running themselves into larger bills down the line by damaging their engines. The reckless dumping of laundering waste products can cause serious environmental damage, and profits could be used to finance other types of criminality such as drug dealing and human trafficking.’