Two men, aged 58 and 51, were arrested yesterday in Wilmcote, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Reddicap Heath, Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham, as part of a major drug and money laundering investigation.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) conducted raids on multiple business premises across Birmingham linked to Operation Venetic, the crackdown on the encrypted communications platform EncroChat.
The arrests come after a significant seizure in June 2020, when officers raided a flat on Kenelm Road, Sutton Coldfield, and discovered £1,656,040 hidden inside a divan bed. Alongside the cash, two kilograms of cocaine were also found.
At that time, two men, both aged 45, were arrested and remain under investigation.
Earlier this year, the NCA secured a forfeiture order to ensure the seized cash was returned to the public purse.
The two men arrested yesterday were questioned regarding their suspected involvement in money laundering and drug offences before being released on bail.
Rick Mackenzie, NCA operations manager, said: “These arrests are an important development in our investigation. The ability for criminals to benefit from the proceeds of crime is a key driver for organised crime, which is why the NCA prioritises disrupting money laundering operations both here in the UK and overseas.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
