TAX officials have published a gallery of photographs of the people they consider to be the most wanted UK tax fugitives – including two with links to Ipswich.

The gallery, published online, features 20 people who HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) believe are responsible for �765million of tax evasion and fraud.

Among them are Wayne Hardy and Dimitri Gaskov, both of whom have warrants for their arrest which were issued at Ipswich Crown Court.

Hardy, believed to be in South Africa, was among a group who conspired to cheat the public purse of an estimated �1.9m through tax fraud on tobacco products.

He assisted in sourcing a tobacco manufacturing and rolling machine and smuggling almost 16 tonnes of raw leaf tobacco into the UK.

Hardy absconded before trial but was found guilty in his absence and received a three-year sentence in October 2011.

Gaskov was part of a gang which concealed and smuggled an estimated three million cigarettes into the UK using desk top computers. Gaskov fled before the trial. HMRC investigators believe he has cost the tax-payer �197,000.

David Gauke, the exchequer secretary, said: “These criminals have collectively cost the taxpayer over �765m and HMRC will pursue them relentlessly.

“We hope that publishing their pictures in this way will enable members of the public to contribute to the effort to catch them.”

People can report leads on the Most Wanted fugitives via HMRC’s Customs, Excise and VAT fraud reporting hotline on 0800 595000, by e-mail or post here, or through the Crimestoppers website www.crimestoppers-uk.org.