Mar.30, 2010

POLICE probing an alleged £1m money laundering ring in Leeds have carried out a series of raids.

Detectives swooped on two homes and a pub in the south of the city.

A man and two women were arrested at one house in Common Lane, East Ardsley and taken away in handcuffs for questioning.

A second man was detained at a house in Stone Brig Lane, Rothwell and almost £10,000 in cash was seized.

All three properties were searched by officers and sniffer dogs.

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 Crimstoppers on 0800555111 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 detached, gated house in East Ardsley, and the property in Rothwell, police raided a pub in Cemetery Road, Beeston.

More than 50 officers took part in Monday's raids.

Local police also visited neighbours to reassure them and hand out leaflets.

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.

Two men aged 43 and 53 and two women aged 45 and 70 were due to be released on bail today pending further inquiries.