CUSTOMS OFFICIALS TODAY uncovered an oil laundering plant, seized 248,000 cigarettes, 51kgs of tobacco, an oil tanker of smuggled fuel and a small quantity of herbal cannabis in three separate operations.

A double oil laundering plant with the capacity to launder around 4 million litres of fuel a year was uncovered in Rathmore, Dundalk, Co Louth.

Revenue officials said that level of fuel would have a potential loss to the Exchequer of €2 million.
One of the plants was found in a shed, while the second was inside a 40-foot container. Both were found on a commercial premises.

Customs officers also seized: four lorries, a jeep, 18,000 litres of marked mineral oil, a tanker (which contained 6,000 litres of laundered fuel), a 40-foot trailer with concealed tank for transporting fuel, bleaching earth, an ancillary equipment.

Separately, the Revenue’s Customs Service seized an oil tanker which was travelling south on the M1. The truck was carrying 19,000 litres of smuggled fuel.

Cigarettes

Meanwhile, in another separate operation, Customs officers with support from gardaí seized 248,000 cigarettes, 51kgs of tobacco and a small quantity of herbal cannabis in a lock-up facility in Dublin’s north inner city.

The cigarettes have an estimated retail value of €116,000 and a potential loss to the Exchequer of €98,000, while the tobacco has an estimated street value of €22,000 and a potential loss of €19,000.

One man aged in his 20s was arrested in connection with the seizure of the tobacco and drugs.