Dublin criminals use cat litter in diesel laundering operation

An oil laundering plant with the capacity to process more than 2.5 million litres of fuel a year has been discovered in Dublin.

It was located in an industrial estate in the Ballycoolin area of Blanchardstown last night.

This is the first discovery of an oil laundering plant in Dublin and it had the capacity to produce a potential loss to the exchequer of €1.75m a year, customs officials said.

A Customs Service spokeswoman said: “The plant used the relatively unsophisticated method of fuel laundering which involves filtering the fuel through cat litter.”

A van and ancillary equipment were seized from the site and investigations are under way. No arrests were made.

The spokeswoman added: “Revenue would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists and the public that they should be aware of the risks posed to their vehicles by using laundered fuel.

“It also takes much needed funds from the Exchequer; hurts legitimate trade and of course it is funding criminal activity.”