Cops seize �3m in dawn swoops on immigration crime’
POLICE and immigration officers seized up to �3 million in a swoop on addresses in East London and the West End following intelligence of organised crime. Five addresses were raided at dawn yesterday (Wednesday) by Met Police and UK Border Agency Immigration officers who arrested five men and two women, most of them from China and Bangladesh
POLICE and immigration officers seized up to �3 million in an operation involving premises in London's East End including a college and other addresses across the capital.
It follows intelligence of organised immigration crime, said Scotland Yard.
Three addresses were busted simultaneously in Whitechapel, Stamford Hill and Rotherhithe yesterday (Wednesday) by Met Police and UK Border Agency Immigration officers who arrested seven people, most of them from China and Bangladesh.
Two men and two women, all Chinese and in their late 20s, were arrested at the Rotherhithe address where officers found suitcases and holdalls stashed with an estimated sum between �2.5m and �3m.
BIGGEST SEIZURE
“The cash is one of the largest seizures ever by police in London,” said Det Chief Ins Christopher Tolley.
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Two Bangladeshis in their early 30s were arrested at the Whitechapel address in Brune Street where police say another �15,000 was found. A man of 60 was also arrested in Stamford Hill.
Officers then searched a college in Whitechapel and a legal services company in the West End, where they seized computers and documents.
The two Bangladeshis arrested in Whitechapel, named as 34-year-old Khaled Mahmud and 33-year-old Tareq Mahmud, are due to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ court along with the four Chinese from Rotherhithe, all charged with obtaining leave to remain by deception.
