asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many prosecutions have been brought for fuel laundering in Northern Ireland since 1 January; and how many have been successful.[HL7302]
Prosecution figures for 2006 will be published in HMRC’s annual report later this year. The number of convictions secured in Northern Ireland, which are related to all forms of illegal fuel activity, including laundering, during the past five years, is set out in the table below:
2000- 2001 2001- 2002 2002- 2003 2003- 2004 2004- 2005 Number of Convictions 5 15 3 4 0
There is a range of sanctions, of which prosecution is one, that can be taken when illicit fuel is detected. Each case is rigorously investigated and the most effective sanction is then applied.