Kent police seize wine in fraud investigation

By Joseph James Whitworth

- Last updated on GMT

©iStock/karandaev
©iStock/karandaev

Related tags Fraud

Tens of thousands of bottles of wine have been seized by Kent Police in the UK.

Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit acted as part of an investigation with Interpol and the Metropolitan Police into an alleged conspiracy to defraud foreign businesses.

A 26-year-old man from Horsmonden was arrested and has been bailed until 17 August.

Police said fraudulent orders have been made to at least 20 companies, based outside of the UK.

Search warrants were executed by Kent Police at a warehouse in Goudhurst Road, Horsmonden and in Tibbs Court Lane, Brenchley.

Police seized 217 pallets of goods, filling four HGV lorries.

Victims have complained that while goods have been dispatched no payments have been received.

Detective Inspector Annie Clayton said: “We have received multiple complaints from victims who have alleged they have lost goods due to fraud and that these goods were delivered to storage facilities in west Kent; which have now been searched.
“This is a complex investigation, which is being assisted by our partners at Interpol and the Metropolitan Police and which has so far resulted in the recovery of vast amounts of property we believe has been obtained by fraudulent means.”

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