A diesel-laundering plant in Co Armagh producing up to 200,000 litres of illegal fuel a week was raided by Northern Ireland Customs officers today.
The swoop on the outskirts of Armagh city comes just three days after a similar plant was discovered in Larne, Co Antrim.
In the latest operation around 35,000 litres of red and laundered diesel were seized along with vehicles and equipment. More than 2,000 litres of highly dangerous hydrochloric acid used in the laundering process were also uncovered.
One man was arrested at the scene and later released after being questioned.
Initial estimates by Customs and Excise indicate the plant had the capacity to launder more than 200,000 litres every seven days - avoiding around £100,000 sterling of duty each week.
A Customs spokesman said: "No doubt there are people in the Armagh and surrounding area who have bought cheap diesel and who have only considered the price but not the potential damage this fuel can do to their vehicles.
"Hopefully the identification of this illegal operation will make car owners think twice before buying their fuel from anywhere other than a legitimate source."
Five major laundering plants have been discovered in Northern Ireland this year.
Last year Customs officers dismantled 13 plants which would have had a combined production capacity of around 40 million litres - avoiding £22 million in revenue.
PA