Arrests Follow International Drugs Cash Swoop

Eight people have been arrested in raids as part of an international police operation targeting a major money laundering network.

Four men and three women were arrested on suspicion of money laundering at five addresses in south-east London, during the early hours of this morning. Another man was arrested in Cambridge.

More than 100 officers took part in the operation - codenamed Dasher - which is the culmination of a lengthy investigation into a criminal network led by detectives from the Met's Operation Trident, working closely with colleagues in Jamaica and Miami.

Det Insp Gill Barratt, from Trident's financial investigation unit, said: "We are determined to put criminals out of business by seizing their assets in the UK and abroad and prosecuting them for money laundering.

"Today's operation should send a clear message that the UK is not a place to come overseas for criminals.

"We will continue to effectively work with colleagues in Jamaica to ensure they cannot profit from crime in the UK by sending money home to Jamaica."

He added: "Our intention is to take out the criminal role models in both countries by taking away their homes, cars and other ill-gotten possessions.

"In cases like this money seized from criminals will go back into tackling crime on both sides of the Atlantic."

The eight people arrested remain in custody in police stations across London.

They are a man and woman, aged 47 and 30 from an address in Bromley, a 26-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman from a second address in Bromley and a woman, 32, from another address in Bromley, as well as a 26-year-old man from a fourth address in the town.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man from an address in Peckham and a 38-year-old man from an address in Cambridge were also arrested in the raids.

(JM/BMcC)