17/10/2006

Currency counterfeit gang arrested

Police have announced that they have disrupted a plan to flood the UK with several million pounds in counterfeit currency.

The announcement comes after officers from the City of London Police Central Detective Unit raided three premises in and around east London.

The addresses - two residential and one business - are suspected of being involved in the illicit printing process of Bank of England, Scottish and Euro bank notes.

Six people - four men and two women - have been arrested in the operation. One man was arrested following a car chase involving five cars from three different forces and two helicopters.

The suspects are: a 35-year-old man from Rainham, Essex; a 46-year-old man from Canning Town in London; a 27-year-old man from Dagenham, Essex; a 56-year-old man from Dagenham, Essex; a 27-year-old woman from Rainham, Essex; and a 60-year-old woman from Canning Town, London.

The raids followed an investigation by specialist officers from the Central Directive Unit from the City of London Police, the Bank of England and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

A number of exhibits, believed to have been used in the counterfeiting process, have also been seized.

Detective Inspector Dave Clark said: "Although the currency seized is not of high quality , it is still possible to pass these notes off as genuine to unsuspecting people. Today's City Police operation was the second of its kind within the last month and, together, has been responsible for the removal of a significant element of the UK's counterfeit currency."

All suspects are currently in custody at Bishopsgate Police Station.

(KMcA)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 April 2011
Arrests Follow Edmonton Murder
Police investigating the murder of 15-year old Negus McLean in Edmonton have today made a further two arrests. A 14-year old boy, and a 16-year old boy, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody. Police were called at 7.25pm on Sunday 10 April to reports of a stabbing in Westminster Road, north London.
07 April 2010
East London Murder Appeal
Detectives have appealed for information about the murder of a woman in Manor Park. Aliza Ahmed Mirza, 18, a student from Ilford, died on Saturday 3 April. Police had been called to reports of a collapsed female. It is believed she was stabbed while in the Forest View Road area. Miss Mirza was taken to hospital but later pronounced dead.
13 February 2009
Father Appeals Over Paralysed Son's Shooting
The father of a teenager paralysed in a shooting incident has joined investigating officers to urge witnesses to come forward. Speaking from his son's hospital bedside Paul Smith said he knew people had information about those who shot and injured Raphael Smith, but couldn't understand why they had not spoken to police.
06 May 2008
Police Hunt Following Teen Murder
Police are appealing for information following a murder in Southwark. Teenager Lyle Tulloch, from Peckham was stabbed at Newall House in Harper Road on Saturday. Lyle, 15, was confirmed dead at the scene despite efforts from emergency services. A post mortem gave the cause of death as stab wounds and haemorrhaging.
11 November 2014
WWII Mortar Trigger Security Alert At London Police Station
Explosives specialists were called to a south-west London police station on Monday afternoon after a man handed in a World War Two mortar bomb as part of a gun amnesty. Police said that an 80-year-old man handed the 1940s device into Sutton station shortly before 13:30 on Monday.