10-month money laundering probe led to Bradford raids

A TEN-MONTH investigation into a suspected multi-million pound money laundering operation led to the early morning arrests of 15 people, including four in Bradford, HM Revenue and Customs revealed today.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th May 2011, 13:32 BST

Twelve men and three women were arrested in early morning raids on Wednesday in the North West, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire on Wednesday.

Codenamed Enigma, the operation is investigating suspected laundering of more than £200 million.

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On Thursday HMRC said officers searched 18 addresses, as well as five businesses, including money services businesses and an accountant.

Deputy director for criminal investigation Alan Lee said: “Operation Enigma took 10 months to reach the point where we could make the arrests of 12 men and three women yesterday. During those months HMRC, working with Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire & the Humber Police, seized over £300,000 believed to be the proceeds of criminal activity.

“Yesterday we searched 18 domestic addresses and five business addresses during the raids, removing evidential material to allow us to continue our investigations. The businesses included a number of money services businesses and an accountant.”

The organisation said nine addresses were searched in Rochdale - one business and eight residential - while two were searched in Manchester - one business and one residential.

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They said five residential and two business addresses were raided in Bradford, while just one residential address was searched in Southport. In Nottingham one business and three residential addresses were searched.

On Wednesday HMRC released details of the people arrested. 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; and 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.