The Northern Ireland Office said that in July, a 12-day operation across the province uncovered 104 vehiclesoperating on illegal fuel - 59 were commercial and 45 were private.
It has been active during the deteriorating weather with 4x4 vehiclesoperating in areas vulnerable to adverse conditions, but a spokeswoman said fewer calls would ensure that genuine emergencies can be attended to appropriately.
The U.S. Air Force had bought about 60 Predators by the time the Afghan campaign began in 2001, but a third of them had already been lost, reflecting the high attrition rates associated with operating unmanned air vehicles during the early years.