More forged permits
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• Two British commercial vehicles have been impounded at the southern end of the Mont Blanc tunnel, loaded with goods for Italy. The Italian authorities have advised the DoE that the vehicles are travelling under forged Italian permits. The registration numbers, which have been notified to the Department, are allocated to British-registered private cars, so the DoE suspects that these may also be travelling with false number plates.
The Italian discovery follows disclosures in CM on October 29 that a DoE check at Dover had revealed forged French permits.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan traffic area told CM this week that arrests in the French permit case were imminent. The matter was now being handled jointly by the
Metropolitan traffic area and New Scotland Yard.
It is understood that following a raid on premises in London the authorities now have in their possession forged French, Italian and German permits. It is expected that further raids would be carried out this week at premises where it is alleged the forgeries are printed.
Charges are also expected to be brought against a number of London operators for uttering forged permits and it is understood that at least one charge under the Theft Act is being actively considered.
The DoE is concerned that the use of forged permits could prejudice future negotiations with foreign ministries.