British Customs officials seized £900,000 in raids at the residence and a store owned by a Pakistani-origin shopkeeper, said to be the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Scotland president.
According to the British media, Mohammed Ameen Mirza, a wealthy businessman who runs the Nisa stores, is under investigation for an alleged £4 million tax fraud. Mirza has been charged with fraudulently evading value-added tax by failing to declare earnings.
Investigators found bundles of cash stuffed in carrier bags. They found £400,000 at his luxury home in Glasgow’s Pollokshields area and a further £500,000 stashed in a safe at one of his stores. The investigators had searched his Nisa outlets in Cambuslang, the Gorbals and Haghill. The £500,000 was found in bundles of notes at the shop in Cambuslang.
A source said that officers could not believe the amount of cash they found. “There seemed to be notes stuffed in any container available. Money was found in plastic carrier bags and paper bags.”
Paperwork is understood to have been removed from a Glasgow-based accountant.
Mirza, 50, is described as an influential businessman in the Asian community. Two years ago, he attended a ceremony in Lahore, Pakistan, to promote the contributions that expats make there. Mohammad Sarwar, then Punjab governor and former Glasgow Labour MP, had addressed the audience.
Last year, Mirza was pictured alongside ex-PM Gordon Brown and Sarwar at an event in Glasgow aimed at highlighting charity projects.
(Left to right): Amin Mirza with Gordon Brown and Mohammad Sarwar. PHOTO: Daily Record
