Police seize £200,000 woth of booze after raid on Huddersfield restaurant, bar and lock-up
Dec 24 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
3 arrests, containers full of booze found in Huddersfield tax evasion operation
A CHRISTMAS cache of illicit booze has been seized in Huddersfield.
Three men were arrested on suspicion of tax fraud and selling smuggled alcohol after thousands of pounds worth of knock-off booze was uncovered in police swoops.
Officers found hundreds of bottles of wine and spirits at Huddersfield Italian restaurant Il Gatto Nero, Kirkgate, and nearby bar Cobi.
Two containers full of booze were also found in a simultaneous swoop at a lock-up off Leeds Road.
In total, an estimated £200,000-worth of alcohol was seized, on which approximately £50,000-worth of tax had allegedly been evaded.
Three men, aged 23, 28 and 56, were arrested at Il Gatto Nero, on suspicion of fraudulent evasion of excise duty and keeping smuggled goods.
The restaurant was able to carry on trading last night but was banned from selling alcohol to the guests who had booked in for Christmas celebrations. Cobi bar’s licence to sell alcohol was also suspended.
Pc Richard Woodhead, licensing officer for Kirklees, said: “In this era of austerity and central funding cutbacks, the actions of individuals not paying correct duty or dealing in smuggled products continues to impact on communities and legitimate businesses who are hard working and conscientious.
“We need to send a strong message across Kirklees that if you choose to deal in illicit products the penalties will be grave.”
Yesterday’s operation followed an anonymous tip-off from an Examiner reader, who provided names and exact locations leading police to the suspicious sites.
The caller had read an appeal from Huddersfield town centre policing team sergeant John McFadzean following reports of a man in a white van selling alcohol to licensed premises.
Two off-licences had been found to be selling Glen’s Vodka that had allegedly been bought from the dodgy salesman.
The finds are thought to be part of an illegal alcohol-selling operation based in Scotland.
Sgt McFadzean said: “The call we received gave information about the specific premises and names of people involved.
