A police crack down targeting motorists using red diesel in Fermanagh this week, has detected several vehicles using the illegal fuel.
Police were out in force on Monday, carrying out a road safety and anti burglary operations designed to proactively seek out travelling criminals and people committing traffic offences. A number of stops and searches were carried out, and seven vehicles were detected using the illegal fuel – red and green diesel.
A police spokesman explained that they joined up with our colleagues from Fermanagh and Omagh District Support Team, Fermanagh Neighbourhood Policing Team, Enniskillen, Lisnaskea and Omagh Local Policing Teams, Roads Policing and HMRC.
The spokesman continued saying, “We are trying here folks. Trying to keep the roads safe. Trying to deter and detect the movement of criminals. With every detection we make we force the criminals think twice about doing it again.
“We thank you for your patience if our traffic stops delayed your journey in any way or if the lights and sirens concerned anyone. Suffice to say a busy day was had but successful in keeping people safe.”
During the search, two people were also found driving without insurance while one person was found to be driving with excess alcohol.
Previously in October, there were also reports of a number of vehicles being stopped by the police at different locations to check for illegal diesel.
Red diesel is only permitted for agricultural use.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, there has been an apparent ‘customs blitz’ on roads in Donegal, checking mostly for southern VRT compliance and aimed at motorists who have illegally ‘imported’ vehicles from the North without paying tax.
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