Smuggling gang jailed for cigarette scam

A gang who attempted to flood the UK streets with millions of smuggled cigarettes and launder the proceeds by buying and selling high value cars, have been jailed for more than 25 years.

Ian Pritchard, 51, Sean Dolan, 43, Paul Smith, 47, and Ian Hindle, 39, were behind smuggling more than 17 million non-UK duty paid cigarettes and 1.4 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco into the UK from Southeast Asia from January 2014.  The duty and VAT evaded totalled ₤4,308,832.

The men, from across the North West and Northern Ireland, used a rented flat in Liverpool as their base to plan the 20 month smuggling scam, which was busted when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers moved in to arrest the men in late 2015.

Antony Capon, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:- "This gang was aiming to undercut legitimate retailers with this large quantity of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco. They thought that by setting up a fake business and funneling cash through it they would somehow stay under HMRC's radar. They were wrong and it was foolish of them to believe they could get away with committing such a large scale fraud. Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clampdown on the illicit tobacco market. This is theft from the taxpayer, denying public services much needed money. We urge anyone with information about this, or any other tax evasion to contact HMRC online or our Fraud Hotline on:- 0800 788 887."

The seizure of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco took place at the Port of Felixstowe in September 2014, when 2 shipping containers were stopped by Border Force officials. The goods were described as furniture on paperwork to try and evade detection.

During a later search of Dolan's home, 949,600 American Legend brand cigarettes were also found hidden in the garage.

The fraudsters tried to hide the dirty cash from the illegal tobacco sales by buying high value vehicles and selling them on. They set up and fronted a UK based business, and hijacked the identity of a legitimate business, in order to launder the proceeds and avoid paying VAT.

The gang bought 102 vehicles totalling ₤1,138,029; more than ₤500,000 of which was paid in cash. The money was then deposited into the businesses. 1 in particular, headed up by Pritchard, received a further ₤308,000 in cash over a 7 month period in 2015.

A carrier bag containing ₤41,000 in used notes was found under a mat in Hindle's car on his arrest. The cash was seized and forfeited.

Hindle, Pritchard and Smith were convicted after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Dolan admitted guilt.

The gang was sentenced to more than 25 years in total at the same Court, on 27 July 2018.

They received the following:-

► Ian Pritchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

► Ian Hindle was sentenced to 5½ years in prison.

► Sean Dolan was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

► Paul Smith was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

► HMRC has now begun proceedings to reclaim the stolen tax.

Information about any type of tax fraud can be reported to HMRC online.

New Regional Adoption Agency launched

A Regional Adoption Agency covering Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral has been officially launched. AIM (Adoption in Merseyside) brings together a team of around 50 staff from across the 4 Councils who have been seconded into the new organisation. Responsibilities include recruitment, approval and ongoing support for adopters, tracking, linking and matching of children and the training and development of staff.

Councillor Margaret Harvey, Knowsley Council's Cabinet member for children's services, said:- "Adoption really can change a child's life so I'm delighted that the Regional Adoption Agency could offer greater opportunities for children in our Region. Having shared resources, expertise and processes will provide enormous benefits to our children and young people, as well as the local Authorities taking part."

Although the Regional Adoption Agency has a centralised hub, staff still have a presence in each of their local Authority areas to ensure they retain close links with social work staff.

Councillor Barry Kushner, Cabinet member for children's services in Liverpool, said:- "AIM means we are able to provide a better service for children and adopters. Previously, each local Authority has effectively competed with each other for adopters and there has been a great deal of duplication of effort. By creating a Regional agency, we have widened the net of potential adopters, shared expertise and ideas and are making sure adopters and children get a consistent level of support, regardless of where they live. This shows the potential of working across Authorities and further collaboration on residential care, fostering and leaving care."

Every year, the 4 local Authorities approve around 100 adopters each year and place approximately 140 children for adoption.

Councillor John Joseph Kelly, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Safeguarding at Sefton Council, said:- "We know that we often receive enquiries from across the Liverpool City Region, so it makes sense that we are collaborating with our neighbours to meet the challenges we face together and increase the potential for our vulnerable children to find a forever family. I'm looking forward to this new Regional adoption agency making the process for would be adopters quicker and more effective as both they and children in Sefton and the wider Region are matched so they begin their new family life."

The launch of the new agency follows a successful bid to the Government by local Authorities on Merseyside to create a new shared service to get more children with a plan for adoption placed successfully and as quickly as possible.

Councillor Bernie Mooney, Cabinet member for Children and Families in Wirral, said:- "It is vital we are able to offer fast, effective and safe support to those children who need to be adopted. Working with our partners throughout the City Region should mean we are able to offer more support to more children, through a quicker and more efficient service."

People interested in adoption can find out more by visiting:- AdoptionInMerseyside.Co.UK or calling:- 0151 477 8700.