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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Arrests after city fuel dump raid | Arrests after city fuel dump raid |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A woman and a man have been arrested and tens of thousands of pounds seized in a raid on an illegal fuel dump in west Belfast. | A woman and a man have been arrested and tens of thousands of pounds seized in a raid on an illegal fuel dump in west Belfast. |
| The dump, which had been under surveillance for months, was located in an industrial estate between the Crumlin and Shankill roads. | The dump, which had been under surveillance for months, was located in an industrial estate between the Crumlin and Shankill roads. |
| The fuel had been brought in from the Republic via south Armagh, where it was laundered. | The fuel had been brought in from the Republic via south Armagh, where it was laundered. |
| More than 5,000 litres of fuel were seized. | More than 5,000 litres of fuel were seized. |
| Around 100 people were involved in the operation - local Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs investigators were joined by colleagues from England. Police officers and staff from the Serious and Organised Crime Agency were also involved. | Around 100 people were involved in the operation - local Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs investigators were joined by colleagues from England. Police officers and staff from the Serious and Organised Crime Agency were also involved. |
| "Early this afternoon, they moved into the industrial estate and seized a van that had arrived just minutes earlier," said BBC NI home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney. | "Early this afternoon, they moved into the industrial estate and seized a van that had arrived just minutes earlier," said BBC NI home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney. |
| "The van contained around 3,000 litres of diesel laundered in the republican heartland of south Armagh and then delivered to loyalist west Belfast." | "The van contained around 3,000 litres of diesel laundered in the republican heartland of south Armagh and then delivered to loyalist west Belfast." |
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| Around 100 people were involved in the raid on the premesis in west Belfast | Around 100 people were involved in the raid on the premesis in west Belfast |
| Surveillance | Surveillance |
| Customs officials who have had the depot under surveillance for months said it has been receiving two deliveries a day and selling around 36,000 litres of fuel every week. | Customs officials who have had the depot under surveillance for months said it has been receiving two deliveries a day and selling around 36,000 litres of fuel every week. |
| It is estimated that each year those who run the depot could make a profit of £400,000, which equates to £1m in lost tax revenue. | It is estimated that each year those who run the depot could make a profit of £400,000, which equates to £1m in lost tax revenue. |
| "The way the laundered fuel is transported and sold is so dangerous, customs officials have described it as a 'portable bomb'," added Mr Kearney. | "The way the laundered fuel is transported and sold is so dangerous, customs officials have described it as a 'portable bomb'," added Mr Kearney. |
| "This is a bit like having a bomb in your own backyard. | "This is a bit like having a bomb in your own backyard. |
| "What we've got here is fuel which is volatile, and it's being delivered and stored in vehicles and premises which are not designed for the delivery and storage of fuel." | "What we've got here is fuel which is volatile, and it's being delivered and stored in vehicles and premises which are not designed for the delivery and storage of fuel." |