Police arrest 7 people as they burst massive £215m money laundering ring using 50 companies and 140 bank accounts

Seven people have been arrested following a major police raid against money laundering in Northern Ireland.

The suspects, six men, and one woman were detained after 15 searches at locations across Northern Ireland on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Chief Inspector, Ian Wilson said those targeted include individuals suspected of high-end money laundering through bank accounts in the UK and internationally.

He added that : ‘Six men aged 33, 37, 39, 40, 50 and 67 and a 32-year-old woman were arrested during the two-day operation.’

‘During our extensive investigation, we identified that a significant volume of suspected criminal cash was being laundered out of the country through a number of shell companies and bank accounts held here in Northern Ireland.

‘The investigation has identified over 50 companies and over 140 bank accounts

‘In total, almost £215 million has been deposited to thousands of bank accounts across the UK and also transferred out of the UK through foreign exchange companies since 2011.

‘Money laundering is often a critical enabler of organised criminality. We believe that the majority of this money is derived from a range of criminal activity carried out by organised crime gangs.

‘We are committed to keeping people safe by robustly pursuing those who are involved in laundering criminally-derived money and enabling criminals to access the profits gained from their involvement in a range of illegal activities.