On 6 January 2020, Ipswich magistrates’ court ordered the forfeiture of a large quantity of cash.
The cash had been recovered by Border Force officers at Stansted Airport, who discovered it secreted amongst clothes in a suitcase. The carrier of the suitcase claimed their sibling, the respondent, had put it there without their knowledge. The respondent claimed that the cash was legitimate earnings from their cash and carry business which had been given to their sibling so that they could approach a new business supplier in Turkey on their behalf.
Following receipt of Dan’s comprehensive opening note, which clearly set out HMRC’s case against the respondent, the respondent chose not to contest the matter and agreed shortly before the hearing that the cash could be forfeited. The respondent also agreed to pay HMRC’s costs.
Dan Jones was instructed by the applicant, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
Dan is a specialist criminal barrister. Alongside his criminal practice, Dan is developing a specialism in proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. As well as acting on a private basis for individuals responding to such applications, he is regularly instructed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the National Crime Agency and the Metropolitan Police to make applications for the forfeiture of seized cash and money held in bank and building society accounts.
