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Arrests made in VAT fraud probe Nine charged in VAT fraud probe
(about 6 hours later)
Customs officers have made 10 arrests across England and Wales in a £250m value added tax (VAT) fraud case. Nine men have been charged with fraud relating to a suspected £250m value added tax (VAT) scam.
The arrests relate to "carousel fraud", where criminals import high value goods free of VAT, from other countries in the European Union. The charges relate to an alleged "carousel fraud", which involves importing high-value goods free of VAT from other European Union countries.
These goods are then sold in the UK with VAT charged, but the criminals disappear with the tax instead of handing it over to Revenue & Customs.These goods are then sold in the UK with VAT charged, but the criminals disappear with the tax instead of handing it over to Revenue & Customs.
Further arrests are expected Revenue & Customs said. A 10th man, arrested on Tuesday, is still being questioned.
LOCATIONS WHERE ARRESTS WERE MADE LondonNewportNuneatonUttoxeterBeaconsfieldBedworthCoventryBowdenSource: Revenue & Customs Arrests were made in the capital, south of England, south Wales, Cheshire and the midlands. 'Five-year inquiry'
European arrest warrants have been issued in France and Spain against four people. Three of the men have also been charged with money laundering.
The ten men are currently being held in London police stations in connection with the sale of large quantities of mobile phones. The arrests were made in London, the south of England, south Wales, Cheshire and the Midlands.
Ongoing investigation The charges relate to the alleged purchase of mobile phones in continental Europe and their subsequent supply to businesses in the UK.
The arrests are part of an ongoing five year investigation into VAT fraud. They follow an ongoing five-year investigation into VAT fraud.
In July 2003, 350 officers raided 93 premises across the UK and Spain, and made 42 arrests. One of those charged appeared before magistrates in London on Tuesday and has been remanded in custody.
"We have a duty to protect the revenue given the scale and nature of the attack we are seeing," Euan Stewart, deputy director of criminal investigation for Revenue & Customs. A further eight men will appear in court on Wednesday.
"Today's arrests follow years of painstaking effort by dedicated officers. A woman has also been arrested in connection with the inquiry.
"The sophistication of the organised crime gangs behind these frauds means that our investigations are increasingly complex," Mr Stewart said. European arrest warrants have been issued in France and Spain against four others, while Revenue & Customs said it expected further arrests.
The nine men charged with cheating the public revenue are:
  • Curtis Laurent, from Cardiff
  • Marcus Hughes, from Uttoxeter
  • Keith Bennett, from Beaconsfield
  • Hashib Apabhai, from Bedworth
  • Mohammed Novsarka, from Warwickshire
  • Peter Ebbrell, from Coventry
  • Keith Ponder, from Beaconsfield
  • Amir Naghibossadat, from London
  • Sampson Goldstone, from Cheshire
    • Mr Apabhai, Mr Novsarka and Mr Goldstone have also been charged with money laundering offences.