Police investigate absent forwarders
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by Karen Miles • Police are appealing for help after launching an inquiry into two Leeds freight forwarders whose staff appear to have vanished owing thousands of pounds to hauliers.
The investigation has been prompted by complaints from UK and Continental hauliers alleging they are owed money by one of the companies, Allied Imports based at the Westfield Resource Centre at South Elmsall near Wakefield.
The West Yorkshire fraud squad, which is conducting the investigation, says it has been unable to contact the two men allegedly behind Allied, Neil Montague and Rob Willis, since June this year.
The second business, Akcent Europa of Stourton Container Base in Leeds, is also under scrutiny after it issued a note saying it had ceased trading on 3 September. Its staff also appear to have disappeared. The fraud squad is to investigate whether the two businesses are linked; it appears some transactions have taken place between them.
Both companies secured contracts with transport customers and contracted out the work to international operators. It appears that on some occasions hauliers received no payment from the freight forwarders.
Cambridge International boss John Hirst says he is owed around £4,500 by Allied for three loads carried between the UK and the south of France and Spain.
Detective Sergeant Clive Whiftleston from the fraud squad is appealing for help from hauliers: "Anyone who is a creditor of either company or who has been suspicious of dealings with them should contact us immediately," he says.
If you have any relevant information ring him on (0924) 292588/292577.