Brian Donaldson, chief operating officer of The Maxol Group, has welcomed the announcement that an additional £1.5m will be spent on new surveillance equipment and additional staff as part of a heightened offensive against criminals involved in fuel laundering in Northern Ireland.

He said: "Maxol has always been committed to providing our customers with quality assured fuels, and as such the fuel laundering epidemic has been a cause of great concern. As well as cheating taxpayers, this illegal activity damages the interest of consumers and the environment."