POLICE, REVENUE and criminal assets bodies from North and South are to combine to counter cross-Border fuel smuggling and illegal dumping.
The announcement was made by Northern Security Minister Paul Goggins yesterday.
He also revealed that £35 million (€44.5 million) of criminal assets were seized in the course of last year.
In addition, £4.3 million (€5.4 million) of illegal drugs and £1.6 million (€2 million) of counterfeit goods were also recovered. The Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF), which he chairs, said in its annual report that up to £270 million (€343 million) in revenue was lost to the exchequer.
“While legitimate cross-Border shopping accounts for some of the revenue lost, deliberate oils fraud is believed to account for the vast majority,” the report found.
Between April 2000 and March 2007 British Revenue officials had seized 12 million litres of illicit fuel, dismantled 111 fuel laundering plants and disrupted 21 criminal operations securing 35 convictions in the process.
John Whiting of the Revenue and Customs said these results were “impressive”.
Mr Goggins said: “Where we can we will bring those in organised crime before the courts. However, if this is not possible, we will strip them of their assets and take away the trappings of wealth obtained through criminal activity.
“There must be no hiding place and I am pleased that the law enforcement agencies are enjoying success in this fight against organised crime,” he added.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said the OCTF report sends a message to the criminal gangs.
“It says we are organised, we are sophisticated and we are more than capable of taking you on and we will continue to take you on.” Prof Sir Desmond Rea, the policing board chairman, appealed for more public support in the fight against organised crime.
“Many people still do not fully recognise the scourge these crime gangs inflict on our communities through their drug dealing, extortion and counterfeiting activities,” he said.
“This criminality of course takes many other forms and the board is fully supportive of the work of the OCTF in raising awareness of the range of activity.”