TWO people have been arrested during a dawn raid led by investigators probing a £2 million VAT fraud. A team from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of “operation Kickdon” swooped on a residential address in Swadlincote in the early hours of yesterday.
After searching the property, a 29-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were detained and interviewed under caution.
The raid came after suspicions arose that the pair were involved in attempting to steal £1.97 million through false VAT repayment claims relating to the sale of large-screen electronic advertising space.
Assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC Adrian Farley said: “I can confirm that two men and one woman were arrested in dawn raids on Monday morning. The raids came after information led us to believe that the three may have attempted to steal £1.97 million through false VAT repayment claims relating to the sale of large-screen electronic advertising space. The arrests that took place were a result of our investigation to disrupt and prevent what is believed to be a major fraud. One of our key priorities is to identify the abuse of our tax systems by organised crime gangs stealing vast amounts of public money for their own gain.”