Four men were arrested during raids on seven addresses in Bradford yesterday as part of an investigation into a £200 million money laundering scam.

A total of 15 people – 12 men and three women – were held in early-morning swoops across the North-West of England, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

The raids were led by investigators from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), supported by officers from a number of police forces, including West Yorkshire.

In Bradford, seven addresses – three business and four residential – were raided and four men, aged 55, 42, 40 and 27, were arrested. A number of documents are also believed to have been seized. The operation continued into late yesterday afternoon.

About 250 investigators from HMRC carried out searches of more than 20 properties in Rochdale, Manchester, Bradford, Southport and Nottingham as part of the inquiry.

The arrests came as a result of a long-running HMRC investigation, codenamed Operation Enigma.

Apart from the Bradford arrests, four men and three women were detained in Rochdale. There was one arrest in Manchester, one in Southport and two in Nottingham. Those detained were aged between 71 and 27.

HMRC’s deputy director for criminal investigation, Alan Lee, said: “Operation Enigma is an HMRC-led investigation targeting money laundering offences. At various stages of the investigation, we have worked closely with colleagues from Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire and the Humber Police.

“Further details cannot be provided at this early stage, as our investigation is continuing.

“However, our activity today sends out a clear message to those involved in this type of criminality.

“Attempts to launder the proceeds of crime are treated extremely seriously by HMRC, and we will relentlessly pursue any individuals or crime gangs believed to be actively involved in money laundering.”

  • Read the full story in Thursday's T&A