19/06/2008

Cross-border Group Takes On Fuel Fraud

A new cross-border group will be established to combat the growing illegal euro trade of fuel.

The Cross Border Fuel Fraud Enforcement group will include representatives from gardaí, customs, Criminal Assets Bureau, and their counterparts in the PSNI, HM Revenue & Customs.

It is being established by the Northern Ireland security minister, Paul Goggins, and will operate under the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF).

The latest figures reveal 43% of all diesel sold in the North, and 14% of petrol, was from illegal importers, meaning a loss to the British Exchequer of £270m.

A report by the OCTF revealed that between April 2000 and March 2007 12 million litres of illicit fuel were seized and 111 fuel laundering plants were dismantled disrupting 21 criminal gangs.

The new body will attempt to further dismantle the criminal gangs who deal in illicit fuel, denying the UK and the Republic of millions of pounds of tax revenue every year.

The group will be a multi-agency body and will include the PSNI, the UK's Customs and Excise authorities, criminal assets recovery bodies, and all their counterparts in the Republic.

(DW)


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