ARMAGH: The international operation into a suspected £5.5m VAT and money laundering fraud has led a series of arrests in Armagh, Merseyside and Birmingham.
The three men and two women were arrested as part of a multi-agency investigation, headed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), linked to the export of cars from the UK to Ireland.
HMRC officers carried out searches at three private addresses in Merseyside, two in Co Armagh and one in Birmingham yesterday. Officers from the PSNI, Merseyside and West Midlands forces assisted in the operation. Simultaneous searches by Garda officers took place in Co Louth in the Republic.
Sandra Smith, assistant director of the fraud investigation service with the HMRC, said: “HMRC takes tax fraud extremely seriously and anyone deliberately choosing to evade the taxes they owe should expect not only a heavy fine, but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.
“Anyone with information about people who may be involved in tax fraud can contact the tax evasion hotline on 0800 788 887.” Newry and Armagh MLA Danny Kennedy welcomed the operation which, he said, had struck a blow against organised criminality.
Mr Kennedy said: “This is very welcome news and clearly it is an important breakthrough against criminal gangs in the area. “Despite this success we can’t be complacent and I would encourage the authorities to continue to bear down on the illegal gangs determined to cheat the system.”
The Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member added: “This operation seems to have spread into the Republic and parts of England so it is clear that these criminal gangs are operating on a local, national and international level and increased vigilance is required.”
