HMRC’s most wanted: gallery of tax fugitives published as another caught
HM Revenue & Customs publishes updated list and announces tax fraudster apprehended at Heathrow Airport while travelling on a false passport, after almost ten years on the run.
HMRC has today published a gallery of its 2013 most wanted, and announced the capture of one of the most wanted tax criminal fugitives.
One year on since the first list was published the 2013 list includes updated information on the original 20 - as well as the addition of 10 more tax fugitives.
The new tax fugitives on the most wanted list are being pursued for a range of crimes including VAT fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. Their crimes have cost the taxpayer between £100,000 and £10 million.
Anthony Judge, who was wanted for his role in over £350,000 of tax fraud and had been on the run for 10 years, was detained at Heathrow Airport last month as he attempted to enter the UK on a forged passport.
He is the second of HMRC’s most wanted to be captured since the rogues’ gallery, which contains images and information on 30 tax fugitives, was first published.
In May, John Nugent was apprehended in the US after the authorities there saw HMRC’s most wanted list.
The gallery has been viewed over 1.5 million times with new intelligence received from the public on the current whereabouts of 17 of the 20 named on the original list.
Building on this success, HMRC has also launched an interactive map showing whereabouts in the world the tax fugitives are believed to be.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said:
Our message is clear; tax fraud and evasion is illegal and will not be tolerated. Millions of hard-working people pay their taxes and it is they who are being defrauded. The government has stepped up HMRC’s enforcement activities to enable them to pursue tax cheats relentlessly around the world.
The publication of HMRC’s Most Wanted has already helped catch two people wanted for tax fraud. This new list will help put more tax fraudsters in the spotlight and bring them to justice.
Biographies and images of the complete list of the 30 most wanted can be viewed online - as well as the tax fugitive map.
The Chancellor discussed the announcement while on a visit to meet some of HMRC’s criminal investigators undergoing self-defence training, where they were learning the skills needed to apprehend and arrest these potentially dangerous criminals.
You can report any information on the Most Wanted fugitives via the HMRC hotline on 0800 595 000, by email or post, or through the Crimestoppers website