06/06/2013

HMRC Smuggling Target 'Unachievable'

HM Revenue and Customs target of reducing smuggling by £1.4 billion is “unachievable”, the National Audit Office has said.

According to the watchdog the strategy laid out by HMRC is 2011 has so far prevented losses of £328m, a figure less that two-thirds of the total projected.

The report did acknowledge HMRC’s increase of its intelligence network, which led to the seizure of some 1.27bn cigarettes and 56 tonnes of tabacco between 2012-13.

But highlighted key initiatives that had been delayed or cancelled altogether due to legal concerns.

(MH/CD)


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