International Agencies Take Action Against Vanuatu-Based Tax Rorts

(Pacific Magazine) Australian police have made one arrest under the banner of Project Wickenby, an international operation to attack abusive tax haven schemes linked to Vanuatu.
A West Australian promoter was arrested this morning, and several other people will be summonsed to appear in court shortly. Search warrants were executed in Sydney, Vanuatu and New Zealand today as part of the operations.
The Australian Taxation Office is also conducting 80 audits examining allegedly false tax deductions exceeding $90 million (US$84 million).


In a statement, the Australian government says “people who avoid tax through the use of abusive tax haven schemes place an unfair burden on the vast majority of the Australian community who do the right thing.”
Bodies involved in the operation include the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Federal Police, the Australian Crime Commission, the Vanuatu Police Force, New Zealand Police and New Zealand Inland Revenue Department.