Seven arrested in largest ever money laundering investigation in Northern Ireland

Gardaí have been assisting the PSNI with the operation.

Seven people have been arrested in Northern Ireland as part of an investigation into international money laundering of criminal assets worth around £215 million (€252m). Fifteen properties were searched across Northern Ireland as part of the investigation, with eight searches carried out yesterday in Banbridge and Newry in Down, and in Omagh in Tyrone. The operation has been described by the PSNI as "one of the most significant live investigations into money laundering in the UK". Gardaí have been assisting the PSNI with the operation. Since 2011, it is believed that almost €252 million has been deposited to thousands of bank accounts across the UK and also transferred out of the UK through foreign exchange companies. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wilson of the PSNI said: "Together with Tactical Support Group (TSG) officers, neighbourhood and local policing teams and colleagues from PSNI’s Operational Support Department, we carried out a large scale search and arrest operation over two days targeting individuals suspected of high end money laundering through bank accounts in the UK and internationally. "We believe today’s operation is one of the most significant live investigations into money laundering in the UK."