MEMBERS of a gang involved in a £1.8 million excise alcohol fraud across the North West, and masterminded by a Warrington company director, have been jailed for a total of more than 19 years for supplying illicit non-duty paid alcohol to local retailers.
During the course of their investigation, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers discovered that spirits, beer and wine were taken from bonded warehouses throughout the UK and then illegally diverted from their intended destination, ending up for sale in the North West, Scotland and the Midlands without duty having been paid.
The mastermind behind the fraud, Paramjit Bagri from Holywell, North Wales, and five other men, were charged with conspiring to evade UK duty between January 2007 and January 2008.
Bagri, also known as Pete, was a co-director of MF Beers and Minerals based in Warrington. The company was involved in the wholesale distribution of beers, wines and spirits but has now ceased trading.
He was also a director of Global Distribution GB Ltd also based in Warrington.
He was sentenced to 66 months after pleading guilty.
Confiscation proceedings are now underway involving the analysis of how key figures in the gang attempted to evade taxes and hide the cash gained from their illegal trade. The evaded UK duty alone was given in court as more than £1,799,448 in court.
However, the confiscation will look to determine other tax evasion and criminal benefits associated with the gang’s activities.
MEMBERS of a gang involved in a £1.8 million excise alcohol fraud across
the North West, and masterminded by a Warrington company director, have
been jailed for a total of more than 19 years for supplying illicit
non-duty paid alcohol to local retailers.
Company boss in £1.8m alcohol fraud
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
