Seven people in the Thames Valley area have been arrested in connection with a multimillion VAT fraud and money laundering scheme following a joint raid by police and tax investigators.
The six men and one woman were apprehended in a series of raids across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Greater London as part of an investigation into a suspected £12m VAT fraud.
Around 50 HMRC investigators, assisted by Thames Valley police officers, searched more than a dozen residential and business premises in Watford (Hertfordshire), Chesham (Buckinghamshire) and the London boroughs of Barnet and Harrow on 25 March.
Colin Spinks, HMRC assistant director criminal investigation, said: ‘HMRC and police officers made a series of arrests across three counties. We will continue to work together to crack down on suspected tax fraud, which deprives the UK of vital public funds.’
All seven people arrested on suspicion of being involved in VAT fraud/false representation contrary to the Fraud Act and money laundering offences have been interviewed and released on bail until the week of 7 July 2014.
Investigations are continuing and no further details can be given at this stage.