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Smuggling link to lake pollution Smuggling link to lake pollution
(about 4 hours later)
The pollution of a lake in County Armagh may be linked to fuel smuggling, the Environment Agency has said. A fuel laundering plant has been discovered at a lake in County Armagh, HM Revenue and Customs has said.
A significant amount of red diesel was reported in Lowry's Lake near Hamiltonsbawn by a caller to the water pollution hotline last Thursday. A significant amount of red diesel was reported in the lake by a caller to the water pollution hotline last Thursday.
The agency said oil absorbent booms have been placed in a tributary feeding the lake in an attempt to stop more oil from leaking into it. HMRC said it thought the plant was capable of producing 21,000 litres a week, a potential revenue of £10,000.
The Environment Agency had previously said it believed pollution at Lowry's Lake in Hamiltonsbawn may have been linked to fuel smuggling.
A spokesman from HMRC said investigations were continuing into the discovery.
"This incident illustrates the devastating polluting effect that the trade of laundering and storing illicit fuel can have on the environment," he said.
"We will continue to work closely with other organisations such as the NI Environment Agency, to ensure that such activity is sought out."
The Environment Agency placed oil absorbent booms in a tributary feeding the lake in an attempt to stop more oil from leaking into it.
Ian Needham from the agency said its quick action avoided a fish kill.Ian Needham from the agency said its quick action avoided a fish kill.
"I think, with a reasonably rapid response and the deployment of anti-pollution equipment, we've avoided a more serious incident," he said."I think, with a reasonably rapid response and the deployment of anti-pollution equipment, we've avoided a more serious incident," he said.
"Thankfully there doesn't seem to have been any fish mortalities.""Thankfully there doesn't seem to have been any fish mortalities."
A specialist clean up company has been employed to remove the oil from the lake, which is managed by Armagh Fisheries. A specialist clean-up company has been employed to remove the oil from the lake.