Arrests made in £440 million fraud crackdown
Three people from the Black Country have been arrested as part of a major investigation by UK and French authorities into a suspected £440 million alcohol fraud and money laundering racket.
More than 100 HMRC officers, together with officials from the National Customs Judicial Service and police, raided homes and businesses across the UK.
Addresses in Wolverhampton and Stourbridge were among those raided.
A 44-year-old man and 38-year-old woman from Wolverhampton were arrested, along with a 38-year-old man from Stourbridge.
Searches were also carried out in Birmingham, London and Surrey where three other men, aged 42, 41 and 33, were arrested.
The raids were carried out on Thursday. They have now been released while the investigation continues.
Computers, business records and cash were seized during the operation aimed at smashing suspected large-scale fraud and money laundering.
All six of those arrested remained in custody last night and HMRC said investigations were continuing.
The raids are part of a huge cross-Channel investigation and follow five arrests made by the French authorities in January.
Then, a 52-year-old man from the Calais area was remanded in custody, with the four others released on bail pending further inquiries.
HMRC officials have urged anyone with information linked to the investigation to come forward.
Paul Fisher, assistant director of HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service, said: “Tax fraud is often thought victimless, but it isn’t; the public lose out on vital funds for essential public services.
"We will continue to work with our partners in the UK and overseas to tackle alcohol fraud and money laundering and ask anyone with information to contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
