Man charged in £5m fuel fraud

Customs officials investigating an estimated £5m illegal fuel scam have charged an Armagh man.

He has been charged with laundering the proceeds of fuel fraud.

His arrest followed a cross border operation involving Customs and Excise and the PSNI on Thursday.

Customs officials seized almost 100,000 euro during searches of domestic and business premises in Armagh.

In a co-ordinated operation in the Irish Republic, officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau carried out searches in County Monaghan.

Customs Head of Investigation, Jane Salt said the latest operation highlighted the commitment to tackling fuel fraud in Northern Ireland.

"Customs attach a high priority to tackling excise frauds that undermine legitimate businesses and rob the honest taxpayer of funds which should go into public services," she said.

The man is expected to appear at Armagh Magistrates Court on Tuesday.