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25/12 Major fuel laundering ring smashed
Major fuel laundering ring smashedThree men, two from the West Midlands and one from Northern Ireland,
have been sent to prison for a total of 13.5 years at Coventry Crown
Court today, for their part in an illegal fuel-laundering scam, resulting
in the evasion of over £2 million in excise duty and VAT.
A successful undercover operation by HM Revenue & Customs Officers
(HMRC) showed how rebated oil (red diesel and kerosene) collected from a
licensed distributor was laundered or mixed and then sold to the retail
market as duty paid road diesel and ultra low sulphur diesel. The gang
were also smuggling, laundering and mixing rebated oil (green diesel)
from the Republic of Ireland.
Frank Jones Assistant Chief Investigation Officer for HMRC, said: "The
success of this operation is a result of our determined efforts to
disrupt and dismantle the illegal supply of fuel. Organised crime has a
detrimental and harmful effect on all our communities as well as a
damaging impact on our environment. We would urge anyone with information on
fuel misuse or suspicious activities in their area to contact us in
confidence straight away."
The fraud involved the laundering and distribution of over four million
litres of fuel over an eight-month period.
In August 2004, 34,000 litres of kerosene were paid for in cash and
collected in a number of fuel tankers driven by O'Doherty on behalf of Taz
Construction of Derby, a company whose details had been hijacked. The
fuel was sold using a bogus company called Mac Oil based in Manchester,
operated by others involved in the fraud.
During 2005, observations showed that after collecting the fuel
O'Doherty drove to rural premises situated in the vicinity of Lizard Lane,
Tong Forge near Telford, Shropshire, and to warehouse premises in Measham,
Swadlincote, Derbyshire. O'Doherty was subsequently intercepted by
Police on the M6 driving a tanker containing 25,000 litres of illicit fuel.
Fuel was also seized from the tanker's running tank.
In March 2005, HMRC officers executed a number of search warrants in
the Midlands and arrested O'Doherty. A mixing plant was dismantled and
quantities of kerosene and green diesel were seized at the Tong Forge
site. At the Measham warehouse a fully operating oils laundering plant was
dismantled and in excess of 34,000 litres of finished product (DERV)
was seized.
O'Doherty was charged with involvement in fuel laundering and excise
fraud. Follow-up enquiries, which included searches and arrests, in
Northern Ireland and Wolverhampton, established the involvement of
organisers Mulholland and Singh in the fraud.
HMRC is keen to work closely with local people and communities in the
fight against crime. Individuals with information relating to illegally
imported goods or tax evasion and fraud are encouraged to contact
HMRC's confidential hotline number on 0800 59 5000 or email
customs.confidential@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs
Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority that
reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution
of all HMRC cases in England and Wales.
06/11 West Midlands cigarette smugglers sentenced
West Midlands cigarette smugglers sentencedA major scam to smuggle 902,000 cigarettes into the UK has resulted in
the sentencing of four men - three from the West Midlands and a
Hungarian national - following a successful operation by investigators of HM
Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
The men were sentenced at Brierley Hill Crown Court today, after
pleading guilty to cigarette smuggling and money laundering offences. They
were convicted of evading nearly £140,000 in excise duty. Customs
Officers were also successful in seizing £66,655 of cash under the Proceeds of
Crime Act, which was found following a search at the home address of
one of the defendants.
Nick Burriss, Assistant Chief Investigation Officer for HM Revenue &
Customs (HMRC) said: "This is an excellent result for all honest traders.
We will not hesitate to take action against those smuggling cigarettes
into the country. These sentences will serve as a deterrent to others.
Smuggling cigarettes is not a harmless tax fiddle. It cheats the
Government of revenue which can be used to fund public services such as
hospitals and schools."
The court heard the major haul of smuggled cigarettes were detected by
Customs Officers, on 15 May 2006, as they were being unloaded from a
large goods vehicle at Sunnyside Farm, Vigo Road, Walsall Wood, in the
West Midlands.
The men were found guilty under the Customs and Excise Management Act.
Details of the defendants are as follows:
* Derek Neil Pattinson, 46, a factory worker of 12 Warren Road,
Burntwood, Staffordshire, sentenced on two counts of 12 months on each count
to run concurrently.
* Stephen Bayliss, 40 unemployed, of 33 Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood,
West Midlands, sentenced to 150 hours community service.
* Jamie Chance, 29, unemployed of 90 Watling Street, Brownhills, West
Midlands sentenced to 150 hours community service.
* Gyula Brenner, 41, a HGV driver from Hungary, sentenced to 30 weeks
on 15 September 2006.
A Confiscation Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act is being pursed.
This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue & Customs
Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority that
reports to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution
of all HMRC cases in England & Wales.
19/09 One thousand West Midland companies join UK Trade & Investment's
One thousand West Midland companies join UK Trade & Investment'sflagship exporting scheme
The flagship scheme designed to help new or inexperienced exporters
achieve overseas success has passed the 1000 mark.
BioCare of Kings Norton Birmingham is the 1000th firm to sign up to UK
Trade & Investment's Passport to Export initiative in the West Midlands
region. The scheme gives businesses the structured training, planning
and ongoing support they need to succeed overseas.
BioCare manufactures and supplies health food supplements, vitamins and
probiotic supplements and has long been established as the
practitioner's favourite.
The company has been heavily involved in product development since it
started 20 years ago and is currently looking to further develop its
business by targeting overseas markets.
BioCare has recently developed several new products to extend its
existing 300 strong range - these are phytonutrient (plant extract)
formulations designed to help maintain healthy circulation whilst travelling in
confined environments, help nourish skin when it's sunny and also a
herbal travel formulation for travellers encountering less than ideal food
and water hygiene.
Trudi Gilmore, BioCare's Export Manager said:
"We anticipate that these new products, as well as many current best
sellers, will be compelling to distributors in new global markets. The
demand for natural remedies is increasing rapidly worldwide as people
seek to take more responsibility for their own well being."
She continued:
"We currently have distributors in Scandinavia, Italy, Greece, Israel
and the Netherlands who are strong partners for BioCare and committed to
promoting natural healthcare in their countries. We'd like to enter
several new markets in the not too distant future and are currently
considering France, Germany and Dubai. With the help of Passport to Export
and our International Trade Adviser, Jane Matty, we are commissioning
market research reports for these countries and formulating a route to
market strategy. Passport to Export is an invaluable well structured
initiative and I believe it will be key to our future export success."
Helene Renard-Coadic, who is in charge of the Passport to Export scheme
for the West Midlands region, said: "We're delighted to be working with
BioCare. It is exactly the kind of company we are looking to assist -
innovative with a high potential for growth overseas."
For more information about BioCare and its products please call 0121
433 3727 or look at http://www.biocare.co.uk
PICTURES show James McEuen, BioCare Managing Director and Trudi
Gilmore, Export Manager (in white shirt) receiving a crystal clock to mark the
occasion from Helene Renard-Coadic (in pink) and International Trade
Adviser Jane Matty, both based at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.