Gardaí in counties Cavan and Monaghan confirmed yesterday that files were being prepared for the DPP following the seizure of trucks impounded during an alleged illegal waste dumping operation late last week.
Detectives were yesterday investigating the unauthorised removal of two trucks from an impounding centre operated by Monaghan County Council at Scotch Corner, between Castleblayney and Monaghan town.
The lorries, believed to have been used in the illegal haulage of waste from the Dublin area, were impounded by gardaí pending the application of penalties under the Litter Pollution Act and Waste Management Act.
In the first case a lorry carrying a load of waste was intercepted while its cargo was in the process of being dumped at a disused quarry site in the Magheracloone area about five miles from Carrickmacross over the weekend.
This vehicle was taken after being brought to the Monaghan County Council local authority holding centre.
In a further incident, gardaí said yesterday they were also searching for a second truck involved in another illicit waste dumping operation near Cootehill, Co Cavan.
Garda Supt Tom Long from Carrickmacross said three men were detained in the continuing inquiry into the unauthorised dumping and use of vehicles. They were released after being questioned.
He confirmed that files were being prepared for the DPP in the continuing inquiry into the activities of the "waste racketeers" posing a major environmental threat in the area.
Meanwhile, an environmental spokesman for Monaghan County Council said there was grave concern over the spate of illicit dumping and attempts to create unauthorised landfill sites near the Border.
He claimed some hauliers were still defying the law by bringing waste from southern counties, including Dublin, to the north-east and using locations near the Border for illegal dumping.
He said there was a continuing alert for offenders and he appealed to the public for information on offenders.
The public can use a special freephone hotline number : 1800 200014 to report incidents he said. Confidentiality is assured.
"Council staff investigate all reports of illegal dumping and action is taken immediately. The bottom line is that we are spending more than €500,000 of taxpayers' money each year in trying to control litter, and protect the environment," he added.
Gardaí confirmed yesterday there were also recent reports of hauliers with huge consignments of waste crossing the Border into the North from the Republic at night, and dumping it in roadside bogs and other secluded areas in counties Armagh, Tyrone, and Fermanagh.
These reports are being investigated by the Department of Environment in the North after illicit landfill dumping was discovered.