Annex C
WORKING WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN THE UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)
HMRC (and the former HMCE) have a long history
of law enforcement cooperation with overseas authorities, and
UK Law Enforcement Liaison Officers have been based in the UAE
for around 15 years.
Throughout this time there has been good cooperation
and a number of significant operational successes. More recently
the UK has also supported the UAE in capacity building projects,
working in particular with the UAE Federal Customs Authority and
in Dubai with Police and Customs. HMRC signed a cooperative Memorandum
Of Understanding (MOU) with Dubai Customs in 2005, allowing the
exchange of information about imports and exports between Dubai
and the UK. An MOU with UAE Federal Customs will be concluded
later this year.
HMRC has also supported the FCO in concluding
a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with the UAE last December.
This allows the exchange of information and evidence in support
of criminal investigations to tackle various forms of fraud including
MTIC fraud.
Using these new agreements and the strong relationships
that now exist between HMRC and several agencies and authorities
in the UAE (the Dubai police, the Attorney General's office in
Dubai and the UAE Central Bank Authority), action has been taken
against persons suspected of laundering the proceeds of MTIC thefts
through UAE bank accounts.
As I explained at the hearing, I recently visited
to thank the UAE and Dubai authorities for this assistance, and
received strong statements of their continuing support.
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