Councils report steep decline in cross-border fuel laundering

Cross-border fuel laundering is in steep decline, with new figures from Revenue showing a huge drop in incidents, and local authorities reporting a sharp fall in the number of cases of toxic sludge by-product being discovered.

Over the past decade, local authorities along the border have faced six-figure costs to clean up diesel wash, often dumped in rural areas and formed as a by-product of illegal fuel laundering. The bill is ultimately covered by the Department of the Environment, with the waste having to be transported overseas to be processed.

However, Cavan County Council said it had no cases so far this year or last year, while neighbouring Monaghan County Council, also regularly affected by diesel wash waste, said the number of cases it has dealt with this year fell considerably.