Revenue seizes 15,000 litres of laundered fuel and an oil tanker in Arklow, Co Wicklow

Today (23/03/2017) Revenue officers seized approximately 15,000 litres of laundered fuel at a premises in Arklow, Co Wicklow. This included 10,000 litres in an oil tanker and approximately 5,000 litres in a tank on the premises. The oil tanker transporting the laundered fuel was also seized.

Over the last number of years Revenue has prioritised action on the illicit fuel trade and has successfully implemented a wide-ranging strategy to tackle the problem of fuel fraud, particularly fuel laundering. As part of this strategy, a new Fuel Marker (Accutrace S10™) was introduced jointly with HMRC in both Ireland and the UK. The new marker enables Revenue to test samples of road diesel from distributors, forecourts and transport companies to identify the lower-taxed marked diesel intended for off-road use only, and take appropriate enforcement action where the marker is detected. The new marker was a significant contributor to the detection and seizure today. While the coloured dye had been laundered and removed from the fuel, the new fuel marker (Accutrace S10™) was present, and enabled the successful detection of the laundered fuel.

Investigations are ongoing in the case, with a view to criminal prosecution.

The illicit trade in mineral oil products, and particularly the laundering of marked diesel and kerosene, is a serious threat to the Exchequer. In addition to the loss to the Exchequer, oil laundering undermines the competitiveness of legitimate businesses, damages the environment, damages consumers’ vehicles and helps to sustain organised criminal networks.

If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding the smuggling or sale of illicit fuel, they should contact Revenue’s Confidential Freephone 1800 295 295.

[Ends:23/03/2017]