Arrest made at illegal fuel plant

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A man has been arrested after a major fuel laundering plant was raided in south Armagh.

It is understood the plant would be capable of producing about 100,000 litres of illegal diesel in an average week.

Police and custom officers raided a large farm shed south of Newry on Tuesday morning.

Inside they found a fuel laundering plant and more than 20,000 litres of illegal fuel.

"A lorry parked outside had been converted into a make-shift oil tanker and was fully loaded, ready to deliver its illegal cargo," said BBC NI home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney.

"One man was arrested near the scene and is being questioned by police.

"Tests revealed that the plant used chemicals to treat green diesel - which can be used legally for agricultural purposes in the Republic, but isn't allowed to be used in cars."

It is estimated that those running the plant would have made an annual profit of around £1.5m.