HMRC roadside fuel testing equipment to tackle the illicit diesel trade was unveiled recently in visits to two locations in Northern Ireland.

The hi-tech equipment has been introduced to allow officers to test vehicles at the roadside for the presence of the new fuel marker. The new marker was introduced into supplies intended for use in agriculture and construction industries in April this year. It is resistant to laundering techniques known to be used by criminal gangs and is intended to improve HMRC’s capability to detect fraud.