British customs officers have arrested 21 men as part of a multi-million pound computer-fraud investigation, it was announced today.
More than 100 officers carried out the arrests yesterday on suspicion of computer component VAT fraud at business and home addresses across Britain.
Customs and Excise officers executed 12 search warrants in the operation in which a High Court order was granted freezing £500,000 sterling worth of suspect assets.
The alleged fraud involves firms importing computer components from another EU country, selling them to another business and then going missing without paying tax.
The swoop, code-named "Operation Darken", centred on Leicester where 12 premises were searched and nine men arrested.
Arrests also took place in Oxford, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham, Stevenage, Tring and Aylesbury.
All the men arrested were taken to police stations for questioning.
They have not been charged but have been released on police bail.
PA