Largest toxic waste dump linked to diesel laundering discovered in Northern Ireland

British Customs officers and police uncovered "the largest ever toxic waste dump linked to diesel laundering" in Northern Ireland on Tuesday morning.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said its officers and officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Environmental Crime Unit took part in the operation.

The dump, found in a livestock shed, located a the Forkhill area of Armagh County.

HMRC said about 50 tonnes of waste, by-product of this illegal process, was removed from the site. Meanwhile, 2,000 litres of illicit fuel, pumps and equipment during the operation were also removed.

The illegal diesel plant is estimated to have been capable of producing 20 million litres of illicit fuel and evading around 12. 5 million pounds in taxes a year.

"Every illegal diesel laundering operation typically generates tonnes of toxic waste, but this was the largest amount we have ever uncovered at a single site in the UK," said Pat Curtis, National Oils Coordinator of HMRC.

"As taxpayers and local ratepayers, not only are we missing out on the stolen tax that ends up the pockets of the criminals, we are also paying the substantial clean-up and disposal costs, which will be around 25,000 pounds for this site alone," he added.

He said buying illicit fuel not only funds crime, but supports and encourages these dangerous activities within the communities. Enditem