HM Revenue and Customs raided a number of addresses throughout the UK today and as a result, six people have been arrested. They are suspected to be involved in a £4 million tax fraud.
The alleged offences include income tax, VAT and corporation tax evasion, construction industry fraud and money laundering.
A residential property in Llandaff, Cardiff; a business property and a residential property in Chepstow, Monmouthshire; a property in Shirenewton, Monmouthshire used for both business and domestic purposes; and two residential properties and one business premises in Northampton were all raided and officers removed business records and computer evidence.
A 65 year old man and a 47 year old woman from Cardiff were both arrested, as was a 56 year old man and a 60 year old woman from Monmouthshire. Two men, aged 66 and 41 from Northampton were also arrested.
Earlier this year 23 people from across England and Wales were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cheat the Construction Industry Scheme and money laundering offences totalling more than £6m.
Criminal investigation assistant director Andrew Pavlinic: “We take very seriously our investigations into tax evasion, fraud, and the eventual laundering of the profits of these crimes. Those involved in this type of activity give themselves an advantage over those businesses that play by the rules, and that simply isn’t fair.”
