Mar.10, 15:44 GMT, 2010

A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a police crackdown on money laundering and fraud in Edinburgh and East Lothian.

The man was charged in connection with alleged mortgage frauds from 2004, totalling £355,000, and summoned to appear at court at a later date.

It follows an arrest of a man, also 42, charged with similar offences.

Searches took place in Mortonhall Road, Craigcrook Road, Elm Row, Edinburgh and Greenfield Park in Musselburgh.

Det Ch Insp Robert Cowper, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "Money laundering provides individuals concerned with serious organised crime with the opportunity to hide their ill-gotten profits and evade detection.

"As we continue to tackle these crime groups, we will look to uncover more laundered cash and seize any assets believed to have been obtained as a result of criminal activity.

"Lothian and Borders Police will not tolerate serious organised crime and will actively seek to bring to justice anyone found to be involved."