Brothers surrender £5.7m assets

The authorities said the men were fuel smugglers

Three County Armagh brothers have surrendered property and other assets worth £5.7m.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency took a civil case against Damien, Joseph and Francis McGleenan from Keady.

Soca said that the men had made millions from years of cross-border fuel smuggling.

The assets they handed over include 12 homes in Belfast and south Armagh, three offices and building land both in NI and in the Republic of Ireland.

Monies totalling more than £870,000 and the proceeds from the sale of two houses are included in the Consent Order, granted on Wednesday.

The civil action began in 2005

John Whiting of HM Revenue and Customs enforcement group said the "assets were amassed through years of fuel smuggling and excise fraud".

"Those involved in the illegal fuel trade are not providing a public service; it is organised crime funding luxurious lifestyles," he said.

Ian Cruxton of Soca said they would continue to target those who profited from crime.

"Fuel smuggling is not a victimless crime and the people involved in it should take this warning," he said.