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Six years ago Customs took it all and won't give it back
Page 6
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• by Chris Tindall A haulage boss has condemned Customs & Excise for failing to return property— including 116,000 In cash—six years after officers raided his home believing he had evaded ElOm in duty.
Ron Dalton believes his business has suffered a tremendous blow ever since the Customs investigation.
At the time of the raid, Bedford-based Dalton International carried out work on the Continent and regularly transported Wine and spirits for various customers without complaint.
However, in the early hours of the morning an 30 September 1997, Dalton claims 20 Customs officers and armed police burst Into his house while he was away and removed most of his possessions before arresting his girlfriend, They also raided his office and confiscated tax books and money the company used for running costs. When Dalton returned the following day, he was also arrested and thrown In a cell.
"They took everything, including the contents of our drinks cabinet," he says. "They said I hadn't paid duty on 110m worth of alcohol."
After being Interrogated Dalton was released without charge. However he had to resort to several solicitor's letters before he received a reply asking him to visit Custom's National Investigation Office ni Birmingham. There he was informed his possessions were still needed for the investigation and photocopies of documents would be sent through the post. But this never happened.
"I have never been charged, they have never been in touch. I have been forgotten about," complains Dalton. "if they had apologised I would have been annoyed, but I would have forgotten about it."
Dalton says he was forced to borrow 110,000 from his family to keep the busi ness going and says he lost customers as a result of the investigation. He has since abandoned international work.
To add insult to injury, he alleges his firm is now at the centre of a tax investigation because he is unable to provide confiscated books to the Inland Revenue.
Bizarrely, Customs initially denied knowledge of the Investigation, nicknamed Operation Dastardly. However, after repeated attempts, a Customs spokesman admitted the case was still "live" and, as a result, he was not able to go into any details He adds: "I can tell you that Customs & Excise will be writing to Mr Dalton in the very near future to update him on the situation," • christophertindaligrbi.co.uk