Fugitive Tax Cheat Sarah Panitzke Nabbed in Spain
Sarah Panitzke, once one of Britain’s most wanted tax fugitives, was arrested in a Spanish operation involving the Guardia Civil and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Caught Walking Dogs by Spanish Coast
The 47-year-old, originally from York, was snapped up in plain clothes while walking her two dogs in the quiet town of Santa Barbara near the Catalan coast on Sunday morning (27 February).
On the Run Since 2013
Panitzke vanished back in May 2013 during her money laundering trial. She had already been convicted and sentenced in her absence to eight years behind bars for a hefty multi-million-pound VAT fraud. Along with 16 co-conspirators, they racked up a combined 135 years in sentences.
HMRC and NCA Praise International Teamwork
Simon York, Director of Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said: “Sarah Panitzke was one of Britain’s most wanted tax fugitives. She played a pivotal role in a multi-million pound VAT fraud and moved millions through offshore bank accounts. Panitzke thought she had put herself outside of the reach of HMRC, but through our work with UK law enforcement and international partners we have tracked down another tax fugitive. No tax criminal is beyond our reach. We have helped secure the return of more than 60 fugitives since 2016, including some of the UK’s most harmful tax cheats.”
Tom Dowdall, NCA International Deputy Director, added: “Sarah Panitzke has been on the run for almost nine years. Given the length of time, she might have thought we had stopped searching, but she remained on our radar. Joint working between UK law enforcement and our partners in Spain led to her being apprehended, and we will now seek her extradition back to the UK to serve her prison sentence. This should serve as a warning to others on our most wanted list – we will not rest until you are captured, no matter how long it takes.”
Panitzke is now in custody in Spain. Once extradited back to the UK, she will begin her eight-year sentence for her crimes.
