A diesel laundering plant's been uncovered in Co. Monaghan by Gardai and Revenue officers.

Two oil tankers, 20 thousand litres of laundered fuel as well as cash, bank drafts and cheques worth more than 60 thousand euro were seized in Castleblaney.

Searches at other locations in Cavan and Monaghan led to the seizure of 14 thousand litres of laundered diesel from a filling station.

The seizures represent a potential loss to the exchequer of 1.2 million euro a year.

Investigations are continuing but no arrests have yet been made

The process requires fraudsters to strip coloured dye from mineral oil - which is a lot cheaper than diesel for use in cars - and that process causes huge damage to the environment.

But Revenue have a new marker for the mineral oil which is colourless - their border enforcement manager is Pat Gralton;