Detectives probing an international luxury car theft conspiracy have frozen more than £2 million of cash and assets, following swoops in Bradford.

Detectives and financial investigators have taken out Court Restraining Orders after the raids to recover high performance cars linked to the alleged conspiracy.

Four men and a woman were arrested last week after search warrants were executed at seven addresses in Bradford.

Now, police have frozen £2 million of assets, which include bank account funds, the value of business premises and more than £1 million worth of suspected stolen vehicles including a Bentley, Porsches, BMWs, Audis, Mercedes cars and Range Rovers.

Some of the cars have now been returned to their owners or legally restrained by officers to prevent them being moved or sold, including a new Ford Mustang sports car found at a car dealers on Allerton Road last week.

Assets which have been frozen include those which officers believe have been funded by the proceeds of crime.

The five people arrested have been bailed pending further inquiries.

The raids followed a 14-month investigation by detectives in Kirklees, working with Stoke Trading Standards, into an alleged conspiracy to commit Hanoi burglaries throughout West Yorkshire and neighbouring forces, handling stolen goods, fraud and Proceeds of Crime Act offences.

Police allege stolen cars have been given false documentation and registration plates and shipped to Japan where they have been sold as new imported cars to unsuspecting customers.

Officers claim the combined values of vehicles linked to the conspiracy is at least £500,000, including a Porsche 911 worth £70,000, and an £80,000 Bentley Continental GT.

Detective Sergeant Guy Shackleton, of Kirklees CID, said: “Investigations are continuing and we have now managed to freeze over £2 million in cash and assets which are linked to this inquiry, and suspend trading at a business used in connection with this matter.

“This has been a major investigation involving a number of partners, both within the force, and colleagues from Stoke who have been leading for other Trading Standards departments nationally.”

DS Shackleton said investigators would always look to seize and take back any assets which could be linked to crime to ensure criminals could not profit from the misery of others.

“The Proceeds of Crime Act is a very important piece of legislation for us and residents can be assured we will act to seize any assets which are linked to criminality to eventually see them re-invested into communities and the fight against crime.”