TWO men from Northern Ireland have been arrested over a major fuel laundering plant south of the border.
The illegal facility that could have cost the state around 9 million euro a year has been shut down.
Some 30,000 litres of illegal fuel were seized at the site in Tatebane, Hackballscross, Dundalk, Co Louth.
Three men were arrested in the operation by officers from Revenue’s customs service and gardai in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The men, two from Northern Ireland and one from Co Louth, were taken to Dundalk Garda Station.
Three lorries, a tanker and other oil laundering equipment were seized at the plant, which had the capacity to launder around 18 million litres of fuel a year.
Officers also recovered 36 tonnes of toxic waste and spirits on which Irish duty had not been paid.
A Revenue spokesman said the operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on fuel laundering.
He also warned motorists against buying illegal fuel.