Over £1 billion now recovered by HMRC's fraud squad

10 Jan 2022

HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) has now recovered more than £1 billion from proceeds of crime and tax offenders.

The FIS was launched in April 2016 and pursues the suspected proceeds of crime by using enforcement powers, both criminal and civil, to disrupt the movement of cash and assets.

It has now made over 1,200 seizures of cash and assets while on operational duty. These include gold bars worth £750,000 from a passenger at Manchester Airport and £48,000 found in a freezer drawer, hidden among chicken nuggets at a house in Blackpool.

Simon York, Director of the FIS, said: 'To reach this £1 billion milestone in five years speaks volumes to the dedication, hard work and skill of FIS to recover the proceeds of crime from those who try to cheat the system.

'Whether it's cash seizures, confiscation orders or account freezing orders, recovering these assets stops criminals bankrolling their lavish lifestyles and funding further crimes that harm our communities, such as drugs, guns and human trafficking. Crucially, this money goes back into the public purse, helping fund our vital services such as schools and hospitals.'