CUSTOMS chiefs say they have uncovered one of the largest amounts of toxic waste from fuel laundering.

It was unearthed yesterday in south Armagh as part of an ongoing battle by Revenue ‘Duty Men’ to stem the tide of laundered fuel reaching the pumps.

Up to 50 tonnes of sludge, which is produced as part of the process of illegally laundering diesel, was found in a farm shed just outside Forkhill.

Customs officials have said the discovery has averted “a potential environmental disaster”.

The plant was capable of turning out 20 million litres of illicit fuel every year – a potential £12.5 million loss to the Treasury.

Around 2,000 litres of illicit diesel, pumps and equipment were recovered during the operation.

HMRC senior investigation officer Derek Dubery said: “This is going to cost £400 per tonne to clean up and there are 50 tonnes.

“That’s a lot of money that could be spent on more essential public services.”

He added that the only way the fuel launderers could be beaten was for motorists not to buy their fuel.

“Clearly people want to buy cheaper fuel. What people have to ask themselves is whether they support organised crime; whether they support damage to the environment,” he said.

“Because if they don’t support organised crime, if they don’t want to see damage to the environment, then they shouldn’t be buying this fuel.”

HMRC officers and the police were joined in the operation by officials from the environmental crime unit of the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency.

No arrests have yet been made.