DUP MLA William Irwin has welcomed the discovery of a diesel laundering plant, capable of producing over eight million litres of illicit fuel a year, on a farm near Crossmaglen.

However the local MLA said the real test as to whether the problem is being tackled will be to see if arrests follow the discovery.

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Mr Irwin said: "It is welcome that another fuel laundering operation has been disrupted in the south Armagh area. However, whilst there are numerous such successful operations they appear rarely, if ever, to be followed up by arrests.

"The real test of whether these operations can be considered fully successful is to see arrests and prosecutions of those who are robbing the Exchequer of tens of millions of pounds every year."

(CD)