Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of illegal diesel and petrol seized by Customs and Excise for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the number of successful convictions secured in each of these years and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2852/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for the collection of mineral oil tax and for tackling the illicit trade in mineral oil products that they are acutely aware of the various illegal activities that lead to loss to the Exchequer of mineral oil tax. The most serious risk in this regard is the large scale laundering of markers from mineral oil (diesel), which is subject to a reduced rate of mineral oil tax on condition that it is not used in road vehicles. The Commissioners inform me that there is currently no evidence of any petrol-related activity posing a serious threat to the Exchequer. The following table lists the quantity of fuel seized from 2008 to date:

In 2011 Revenue enforcement staff detected nine oil laundries and 327,000 litres of laundered fuel were seized, together with nine oil tankers and twenty-nine other vehicles. Sixteen persons were arrested in the course of these operations and files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who has to date issued directions to prosecute on indictment in respect of two of the cases. In addition, a further 718,181 litres of illicit mineral oil has been seized, the large majority from retail outlets or in the course of delivery to such outlets. The following table lists the number of convictions secured in the years from 2008 to date:

Revenue employs a broad range of compliance and enforcement strategies to detect and counteract illegal practices involving mineral oils. These include ongoing analysis of the nature and extent of the problem; development and sharing of intelligence with agencies on both sides of the border; the conduct of intelligence driven operations using covert surveillance to identify oil laundry locations; seizure of illicit product, laundering equipment and vehicles; physical sampling at road checkpoints; and prosecution of those involved in illegal activities in relation to mineral oils.

In the latter half of 2011, Revenue commenced a vigorous campaign targeting specific locations nationwide, with the intention of immediate closure of unlicensed outlets and the challenging of other instances of non-compliance with mineral oil legislation. As part of this drive, warning letters have been issued to unlicensed retail outlets and a number of these have been effectively closed down by the actions of Revenue enforcement teams. This campaign is ongoing and Revenue is in the process of seizing illicit product and closing down a further number of unlicensed or otherwise illegal retail outlets.