HMRC has published a rogue's gallery of its top 20 most-wanted criminals who have fled the country owing the taxman a staggering £765m between them.

And in an unprecedented move, it has called on the public to help track them down by publishing the tax fugitives' mugshots.

Heading the list is Hussain Chohan, 44, convicted at Birmingham Crown Court for his part in a £200m fraud, which involved importing 2.25 tonnes of tobacco worth £750,000 in duty.

Chohan, believed to be hiding in Dubai, was sentenced to 11 years for smuggling, fraud and failing to appear in court. He has been served with a £33m confiscation order.

Another on the list is Nasser Ahmed who fled to Pakistan or Dubai before being sentenced to six years in jail at Bristol Crown Court for his role in a £156m VAT fraud.

Darsim Abdullah, from London, is also being sought after fleeing to Iraq before being sentenced. He was convicted at Guildford Crown Court as part of a 12-man crime group that laundered between £1m - £4m a month from the proceeds of crime. The total figure stands at £24m.

David Gauke, the Exchequer secretary, said: 'The government is absolutely committed to tackling tax evasion and fraud. These criminals have collectively cost the taxpayer over £765m and HMRC will pursue them relentlessly. We hope that publishing their pictures in this way will enable members of the public to contribute to the effort to catch them.'

HMRC says tax evasion and fraud costs the UK taxpayer around £10bn a year in lost revenues. It has invested over £900m in the department to ramp up its ability to recover an additional £7bn each year in tax revenue.

The trio and 17 pictures and details of other fraudsters can be viewed on HMRC's Flickr page.