Six arrested in investigation into suspected £4m tax fraud

SIX people, one a financial adviser, have been arrested as part of an investigation into a suspected £4m Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax evasion and money laundering fraud.

Officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), supported by West Mercia Police, and Border Force arrested the four men and two women.

Richard Wentel, assistant director, criminal investigation, HMRC, said: “This is an investigation into suspected tax fraud on an industrial scale, attacking the PAYE system and associated money laundering.

“A self-styled financial adviser and five others have been arrested in connection with the investigation of which we believe involves the theft of PAYE payments collected from the employees of a number of companies in the West Midlands and Shropshire areas.

“Tax fraud is not a victimless crime and every year costs millions of pounds in lost revenue that should be funding public services. We are committed to working with our partner agencies in the UK and abroad to target those who try to rip-off taxpayers in the UK.”

During the operation four domestic addresses, five vehicles and two business premises were searched and property including computers, mobile phones, business records, and several high performance vehicles were seized pending further enquiries.

Four people were arrested in Telford and Wolverhampton and two were arrested at Birmingham Airport as they re-entered the UK.

Following initial interviews under caution by HMRC, all have now been bailed to November 2015.
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