Customs close 22 fuel laundering plants in the North

Customs officers dismantled and shut 22 fuel laundering plants in the North this year which were capable of depriving the UK's Inland Revenue of £68m (€82m) in taxes, it was revealed today.

The 94,000 litres of toxic sludge dumped by criminals involved in the illegal operations was enough to fill 500 domestic wheelie bins, according to HMRC staff.