An oil laundering plant that would have deprived the Government of £2 million a year has been uncovered by customs officers and gardaí in Co Meath.
More than 10,000 litres of diesel were stored at the premises, near Slane, together with machinery and other equipment designed to remove the dye from lower-duty agriculture fuel for illicit sale.
All of the materials were seized by the Revenue Commissioners.
A spokesman said: "The plant had the capacity to process 150,000 litres a week, and could have defrauded the State of an estimated £2 million in a full year of operation."
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Police are preparing a file on the operation for theDirector of Public Prosecutions.
PA