Beer smugglers jailed for 19 years over £3.8m scam

Ozgur Kaplan (below), of Brinsworth, and three other defendants from Doncaster, were found guilty of conspiring to cheat the public revenue.

Assistant director Stuart Taylor, from HMRC’s fraud investigation service, said: “This was a sophisticated and shameful attack on the UK’s alcohol trade that undoubtedly harmed legitimate and hardworking businesses. 

“Zerze and his criminal gang stole millions of pounds which should have been used to fund our public services and now they are paying the price behind bars.

“HMRC will continue to pursue organised crime gangs which think stealing from the public is a legitimate way to do business.”

The four men were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, when Kaplan (27) was jailed for two years.

Huseyin Zerze (31), of Lonsdale Avenue, Doncaster, was sentenced to seven years; Ibrahim Mayil (38), of Sandall Park Drive, Doncaster, was given five years; and Huseyin Mayil (36), of Wheatley Hills, Doncaster, was jailed for five years.

HMRC said proceedings were under way to recover any profits made.