Mar.31, 2010

POLICE probing an alleged £1m money laundering ring carried out raids in East Ardsley on Monday.

Detectives swooped on the house on Common Lane, where a man and two women were arrested and taken away in handcuffs for questioning.

The property was also searched by officers and sniffer dogs as part of Operation Limewood, a financial inquiry into alleged unexplained wealth and assets.

Det Insp Fran Naughton, of the economic crime unit (ECU) in Wakefield, which carried out the raids, said: "Our aim is to focus on negative role models in the community.

"If people are living beyond their means, for example owning flash cars, flash houses, and don't appear to have jobs, we will investigate them for money laundering.

"If the public believe somebody on their street is living beyond their means they can report it via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and we will investigate it.

"We're sending the message out that nobody is untouchable. The police will come and find you."

As well as the house in East Ardsley, police raided a house in Stone Brig Lane, Rothwell where almost £10,000 in cash was seized. A pub in Cemetery Road, Beeston, was also visited by officers.

Two men aged 43 and 53 and two women aged 45 and 70 have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

A Yorkshire-wide Why Should They? campaign was launched by the West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board and West Yorkshire Police, targeting criminals living off the money made through crime.

The ECU uses the Proceeds of Crime Act which is enforced in the civil, not criminal, courts so there is more chance of a successful prosecution.

An individual can have assets seized if there is a genuine suspicion they were obtained illegally and the individual cannot prove differently.