Maldon business premises searched during investigation into £1.4million fuel fraud

More than 50 officers from HM Revenue and Customs and the Environment Agency carried out simultaneous searches of three business and six residential addresses in Essex and Kent on Wednesday.

It saw seven men arrested and four tonnes of toxic waste removed after two fuel laundering plants were discovered in Essex.

Between them, the two laundering plants had the potential to produce three million litres of illicit fuel a year, evading an estimated £1.4 million in revenue.

Brett Wilkinson, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Laundering fuel is a serious crime which HMRC is determined to tackle. The organised criminals involved in this type of fraud steal millions each year in unpaid duty and taxes, which should be funding public services, not lining their pockets. We are determined to take that profit away.

“The toxic waste from fuel laundering poses a real threat to the environment and costs thousands of pounds to dispose of safely.

“Taxpayers are not only missing out on the stolen tax, but we also have to fund the substantial clean up and disposal costs.”

HMRC said it was unable to provide information on whether anything had been found during the search in Maldon.

Two men, aged 55 and 31, were arrested in the Purfleet area, a man, aged 61, was arrested at an address in the Hornchurch area, a man, aged 58 was arrested at an address in the Brentwood area, a man, aged 50 was arrested at an address in the east London, a man, aged 46 was arrested at an address in the Ilford area of London and a man, aged 55 was arrested at an address in the Ilford area of London.

The seven men arrested were questioned by HMRC and have been bailed. Investigations into the fraud are ongoing.

Anyone with information about the transport, storage or sale of suspected illicit fuel to should call 0800 59 5000.