Six arrested in suspected £4m tax fraud investigation

Six people, one a financial adviser, have been arrested as part of an investigation into a suspected £4 million 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 searched six premises in Telford and Wolverhampton last week and 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.

“Anyone with information about people or businesses suspected of being involved in tax fraud can contact HMRC through the Tax Evasion hotline on 0800 788 887.”

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. Two arrests were made at Birmingham Airport as the individuals re-entered the UK.

Notes to Editors

1.  Details of the arrests made on Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 July 2015:

• Three men from Telford aged .41, 42, and 46
• One man from Wolverhampton aged 54.
• Two women from Telford aged 37 and 40.

2.  Four were arrested on Thursday in Telford and Wolverhampton and two were arrested on Saturday at Birmingham Airport as they re-entered the UK. Following initial interviews under caution by HMRC all have now been bailed to November 2015.

3.  Follow HMRC’s Press Office on Twitter @hmrcpressoffice

4.  HMRC’s Flickr channel www.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk