Customs officers in Northern Ireland have seized 26 vehicles including a petrol tanker during a three-day operation to combat the use of illegal fuel.

Working with the police, customs officers stopped vehicles on roads and checked stocks at petrol stations in Bushmills, Ballycastle, Armoy, Ballymoney and Cullybackey in County Antrim.

During the operation from Thursday 31 October to Saturday 3 November, Customs and Excise said fines totalling �13,000 were imposed on motorists.

One of the vehicles seized was a tanker carrying red diesel. And a total of 70,000 litres of unleaded fuel and 14,600 litres of red diesel were seized, customs officers said.

We believe that government action has slowed the growth of oils fraud

HM Customs and Excise

Customs said in a separate operation an illegal fuel depot and laundering plant was shut down on Saturday in Armagh City.

A Customs spokesman said the plant was discovered by the fire service when they were putting out a blaze nearby.

The spokesman added: "We have repeatedly warned motorists to think before buying cheap fuel. It puts honest filling stations out of business, robs the taxpayer of money for public services and puts the motorist's vehicle at risk of serious engine damage."

In a statement following the two operations, Customs and Excise said: "With the recent increase in customs officers, close working with the police and other agencies and the establishment of the organised crime taskforce, we believe that government action has slowed the growth of oils fraud."