An ice-cream man who allegedly sold smuggled cigarettes from his vans has had nearly £1.5 million worth of assets frozen, it emerged today.
A house and two flats in Belfast belonging to Stephen Albert Baxter have been seized.
The Assets Recovery Agency also took control of two ice-cream vans, and a BMW four-wheel drive.
Alan McQuillan, the organisation's Northern Ireland boss, made the move after being granted permission at the High Court.
He claimed Mr Baxter has never been granted a street trading licence, leaving all his earnings open to recovery.
The agency said police had detected Mr Baxter, of Lyndhurst View Park, north Belfast, selling smuggled tobacco from his vans.
His lifestyle and property acquisitions were far in excess of any known lawful means of income, it was claimed.
Mr McQuillan, who suspected the businessman was planning to buy up to 10 new luxury properties within days, said: “This action again proves that crime doesn't pay.
“When people evade tax, we all lose out. It means less money for our hospitals, our schools and our other vital public services.
“Whether part of major crime syndicates, or simply acting alone to enrich themselves, no one receiving income from unlawful means is beyond the reach of the Assets Recovery Agency.
“Everyone in society suffers as a result of this sort of illegal activity. We are here to help put a stop to it in co-operation with other law enforcement bodies.”
Anonymous phone calls from people in north Belfast complaining about the sale of smuggled cigarettes from ice cream vans. The Agency passed the information to police who then referred it back to Mr McQuillan.
The total value of the assets frozen is estimated to be £1.4 million, with realisable equity of around £400,000. An Interim Receiver has been appointed to ensure that the identified recoverable property will be managed and held.