Six men have been arrested in dramatic raids as part of an investigation into a £78 million landfill tax fraud.
A total of 14 arrests have been made across the North East and Yorkshire as part of a large scale operation involving around 180 HMRC officers.
Simon York, director of the Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said the arrests were the result of an 18-month investigation.
“We believe more than £78m revenue may be involved, money which could be used to fund some of the UK’s most vital public services,” he said. “No one is above paying their fair and legal share of tax, as the rest of us do, and we are closing in on those who try to cheat the system.
“HMRC, working with our law enforcement partners, will do everything within our power to catch those involved in tax fraud of any kind, and will push for the strongest punishments through the court.”
