LOCAL politicians congratulated police and customs officers after a long-running investigation into fuel laundering bore fruit in the shape of arrests and illegal fuel seizures last week.
Nearly 4,000 litres of fuel, two lorries and eight cars were seized in a joint operation by the PSNI and officers from HM Revenue and Customs in Lurgan, Belfast, Kilkeel and Newry.
UUP MLA Sam Gardiner welcomed the arrests, saying: “I’m pleased th
e PSNI are getting on top of this type of criminality and are seen to be active on the ground.”
In light of the arrests and fuel seizures he encouraged anyone who notices any suspicious activity to report it to police.
Tony Elliott from the SDLP said: “We’d be opposed to any sort of fuel laundering or anything else that’s going to inconvenience the ordinary people in the street.
“Plus there’s a heck of a danger problem with storing that much fuel. One spark and the whole lot goes up.”
DUP Councillor Carla Lockhart welcomed and commended customs officers on their recent seizures and arrests relating to illegally laundered fuel in Lurgan and various other parts of the country.
She stated: “There is considerable danger in storing a transporting illegal fuel and therefore I would condemn any such activity.
“Given the historically low number of convictions related to this type of offence these arrests are very much welcomed. However, it is also true to say that sentences have been unduly lenient in the past I would hope that this good piece of work by HMRC will not be spoiled by over lenient sentencing.”
The full article contains 271 words and appears in Lurgan Mail newspaper.
