Cross border fuel investigation

A joint Garda-PSNI operation has seen officers from both forces raid 18 premises along the border as part of an investigation into diesel smuggling.

The searches took place at professional offices, private residences and business premises as part of

'Operation Jutty' aimed at gathering evidence and to identify and seize assets held by suspected fuel smugglers.

Some €20,000 in cash, documentation, three vehicles, and in excess of 175,000 litres of fuel and four mobile laundering facilities were seized during the searches.

The Garda's involvement was conducted as part of the work of the Organised Crime Task Force.

Officers from local Garda stations, the Garda Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda Emergency Response Unit and the Irish Customs Service carried out thirteen searches in Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal.

In the North, officers from the Royal Customs Service as well as officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland carried out a further five searches.