15 arrested in money laundering raid
Police arrest 15 people suspected of laundering more than £200m in dawn raids across the North West, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.
Police and around 250 HM Revenue and Customs officers swooped on more than 20 properties as part of a long-running investigation, codenamed Operation Enigma.
Twelve men and three women, ranging in age from 27 to 71, were arrested at addresses in Rochdale, Manchester, Bradford, Southport and Nottingham.
HMRC’s deputy director for criminal investigation Alan Lee said: “Our activity today sends out a clear message to those involved in this type of criminality.
“Attempts to launder the proceeds of crime are treated extremely seriously by HMRC, and we will relentlessly pursue any individuals or crime gangs believed to be actively involved in money laundering.”
Operation Engima is led by the HMRC, targeting money-laundering offences.
“At various stages of the investigation, we have worked closely with colleagues from Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire and the Humber police,” Mr Lee said.
Seven people – four men and three women – were arrested in Rochdale, aged between 32 and 71; there was one arrest in Manchester, a 31-year-old man; while four men were arrested in Bradford, aged between 27 and 55.
A 50-year-old man was arrested in Southport in the raid, and there were two arrests in Nottingham – both men, aged 43 and 37.
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