A man has been arrested after an oil laundering plant was discovered in Co. Monaghan.

Gardaí and customs officers uncovered the plant - which had the ability to launder over 15-million litres of fuel a year - at Drumacon, following an intelligence-led surveillance operation.

It represented a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €8-million.

A forklift, six vehicles and ancillary equipment were also seized.

In addition, seven tonnes of toxic waste - the by-product of the laundering process - were also seized. In a connected search of a commercial yard in Longfield, a tanker containing 20,000 litres of fuel, a trailer with a concealed tank and 68 bags of bleaching earth were also found.