31 properties searched as part of investigation into diesel fraud

The police discovered bleaching installations or the remains thereof at Hensies, Estaimpuis (both Hainaut Province), Zutendaal (Limburg Province) Jeumont, in northern France and in Weert, in The Netherlands. The 19 people arrested will appear before an Examining Magistrate either today (Tuesday) or tomorrow (Wednesday).

More than 100,000 euro in cash were confiscated and larger sums that had been deposited onto bank accounts have been frozen. A kilo of gold and two firearms with 25kg ammunition have also been seized. In addition to this, police also confiscated vehicles, including four tankers, two tractors, a trailer and eight luxury vehicles as well as several data carriers and documents. Service stations suspected of being points of sale for the diesel that was intended for used by agricultural vehicle or as heating oil, but had had it dye removed by the gang, have been sealed by the police.

Bruno Coppin of the Limburg Public Prosecutor's Office told journalists “With the large-scale decolorisation of red diesel, criminal organisations seek to evade excise duty and generate very significant illegal profits. They then try and reinject their ill-gotten gains into the legal economy via various money laundering techniques. The exchequer has been defrauded to the tune of several million euro”.

More than 150 police officers were involved in the property searches. The Federal Judicial Police Services from Leuven, Liège, Eupen, Antwerp and Brussels were also involved in the operation as were officers from several local police services and Customs and Excise. Officers from the French and Dutch police services carried the searches in Jeumont and Weert.