East Belfast DUP MLA and Policing Board member Robin Newton has welcomed the raid on a fuel-laundering plant in Crossmaglen but said that the law-abiding public will feel angry and disappointed that there have been no arrests.

Commenting Mr Newton said: "It is good news for honest businesses that that another raid has been carried out on a South Armagh fuel-laundering premises. However, this is but another among dozens of such raids that only temporarily disrupts the criminals' illegal activity. Press reports have confirmed that within days of a plant being raided the criminals are up and running again.

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"Not only are these thugs and bully boys siphoning off money that the Exchequer could be allocating to our schools and hospitals but they are also destroying our environment. In this latest case 20 tonnes of toxic waste would have been dumped along our highways and byways.

"Criminals gain huge profits from illegal fuel-laundering and cigarette smuggling. The long-suffering public has a right to demand that those engaged in the activities are brought before the courts and appropriate sentences are handed down."

(CD/JP)