MOTORISTS in Inishowen
who are tempted to use illegal fuel to offset the
spiralling prices at the pumps have been warned they
face an increased risk of being caught and
prosecuted.
Revenue Commissioners who have already made 470
detections of illegal fuel in vehicles across the
country this year, have said that they plan to
intensify their campaign to crack down on the use of
illegal fuel in motor vehicles. |
Speaking to the
Inishowen Independent, Dave Coleman of the Revenue
Commissioners said that motorists in Inishowen could
expect an increased number of ‘multi-agency’
checkpoints in the weeks ahead.
And he warned that people who might be tempted to
purchase illegal fuels for use in the vehicles faced
a much higher risk of being caught.
“As part of the campaign it is anticipated that
there will be many more checkpoints involving
Revenue officials and Gardai and anyone who uses
illegal fuel in the vehicle can be assured that
there will be many |
 |
more checkpoints in the
weeks ahead.”
The Revenue Commissioners have said that with the
worldwide increase in the cost of oil, they were
aware that there is a greater temptation of the
unscrupulous trader to use illegal diesel.
“It is a fact that traditionally the laundering
plants have been located along the border areas and
there is no doubt that people living in these areas
can expect to notice the campaign against this
illegal use has been stepped up. But there have been
detections all over the country and this is very
much a nationwide campaign,” he said. The intensive
campaign will not just focus on the use of illegal
fuel in the tanks of vehicles but is also likely to
see officials seeking to seize illegal fuel.
“We have a duty to protect the exchequer and
safeguard the interest of legitimate traders and we
intend to be increasingly vigilant in this area. We
urge members of the public to contact their nearest
Revenue office if they know of any fuel misuse or
suspicious activity in their area,” the Revenue
spokesman concluded. |
