A diesel laundering plant with a capacity of hundreds of thousands of litres was seized today in Co Louth.
Customs officers said the plant was one of the largest they have ever seized.They said the loss of revenue caused by the plant in Kilcurry, Dundalk, could have run into millions of euros a year.
The plant consisted of five overground tanks and had the capacity to launder 150,000 litres per day. Some 100,000 litres of fuel were also discovered in the find.
Laundering plants take agricultural diesel, which has a reduced rate of excise, and sell it on as more expensive motor diesel.
They do this by removing a dye which distinguishes it as cheaper diesel and colouring it as motor diesel so it can then be sold on at the higher rate.
No arrests were made and investigations were being carried out into the find.
PA