HMRC seize 68,000 litres of illegal booze

Over 68,000 litres of alcohol and three lorries have been seized by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers in the UK in an overnight operation to crackdown on excise fraud and smuggling.

A total of 68,000 litres of alcohol were seized in an overnight operation in the Port of Dover in the UK

A total of 67,317 litres of beer with a duty value of £61,932 and 1,125 litres of wine, with a duty value of duty £33,690, were seized in the Port of Dover overnight on Wednesday.

The aim was to identify vehicles carrying non-duty-paid alcohol from Calais to Dover, in order to disrupt the illicit supply of alcohol to the UK by organised criminal gangs.

The operation also identified haulage companies believed to be involved in the fraud for further civil or criminal enforcement.

Richard Las, HMRC’s deputy director of criminal Investigation, said: “Alcohol fraud costs taxpayers £1.3 billion in lost revenue each year. It is not a victimless crime, it breeds criminality, as well as undermining honest, legitimate traders.

“Anyone we catch during this operation can expect to feel the full force of our powers, which can include seizure of their goods and vehicles, financial penalties, arrest and potentially a criminal record.

“We work closely with other partner agencies to help us identify, target and disrupt these organised criminal gangs smuggling alcohol into the country.”