Two held in money laundering probe

Mar 23 2007

TWO more people have been arrested in connection with a two-year investigation into a West Midlands organised crime group alleged to have laundered millions of pounds.

The man and woman, both in their 40s and from Rugeley, Staffordshire, are being held on suspicion of money laundering offences.

Four others were arrested earlier by customs officers following a series of dawn raids across the Midlands.

Cash, computers and bank account details were seized from six West Midlands properties in Sedgley, Brownhills, Willenhall and Walsall, and in the Staffordshire village of Norton Canes.

HM Revenue and Customs are hunting the leaders of a sophisticated network laundering the proceeds of crime.

Nick Burriss, assistant chief investigation officer for the HMRC, said: "The arrests are the result of strenuous efforts by our teams of dedicated officers to disrupt the sophisticated scams of organised crime gangs behind money laundering activities.

"We are committed to bringing them to justice and to deprive them of the proceeds of their crime. We are determined to recover money stolen from the British taxpayer, wherever in the world our investigations lead."