A new dye is to be added to agricultural diesel from 1 April to help prevent fuel laundering.

Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady welcomed the news.

He said: "Fuel laundering has been a major issue that has seen the rise of criminal gangs especially along the border area.

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"These gangs have caused untold damage to the environment as they dump their smudge in fields and rivers as well as attacking local communities opposed to their actions.

"The new marker will be introduced on an all Ireland basis and this new product which is resistant to the current processes of fuel laundering will hopefully help address the problem of fuel laundering and an end to these criminal gangs."

(CD/JP)