Six East Yorkshire Men Arrested In Suspected £78m Tax Fraud
Six men from East Yorkshire are among fourteen people arrested as part of an investigation into a suspected £78 million landfill tax fraud.
Around 180 officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), supported by the Environment Agency and local police forces, searched six commercial and eight residential addresses in Gateshead, Washington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Hull early this morning.
It led to the arrests of eleven men and three women - including six men from our region aged between 23 and 49. They were from Beverley, Melton, Brough, Anlaby, Willerby and Hull.
Simon York, Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“Today’s activities are the culmination of 18 months' painstaking investigation into the suspected systematic abuse of the landfill tax system.
“We believe that over £78 million revenue may be involved, money which could be used to fund some of the UK's most vital public services.
“No one is above paying their fair and legal share of tax, as the rest of us do, and we are closing in on those who try to cheat the system. HMRC, working with our law enforcement partners, will do everything within our power to catch those involved in tax fraud of any kind, and will push for the strongest punishments through the court.
“Anyone with information about suspected landfill tax fraud or other types of fraud can call the Tax Evasion Hotline on 0800 788 887.”
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:
“The Environment Agency is supporting HMRC in a major operation at locations across Yorkshire and the North East.
“We are working closely with our partner organisations to help stamp out landfill tax evasion.”