Police make fraud crackdown raids

Money laundering is seen a a growing problem

More than £2m could be seized following a crackdown on money laundering and fraud in Edinburgh and East Lothian.

Lothian and Borders Police said £2.3m in assets was "identified for potential seizure" under the Proceeds of Crime Act after police raids on Wednesday.

The force raided properties in Mortonhall Road, Craigcrook Road and Elm Row in Edinburgh, and Greenfield Park in Musselburgh.

A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged as part of the operation.

'Ill-gotten gains'

Two women, aged 41 and 42, are now the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal.

Cash totalling £3,000 was also recovered, along with items relating to possible offences under the Gaming Act, police said.

Det Ch Insp Robert Cowper, of Lothian and Borders Police, said the operation was about securing evidence and intelligence in relation to money laundering and fraudulent activities.

He added: "In addition to searching private homes, we also searched a business premises suspected of having links to criminal activity.

"Serious organised crime groups often use other businesses to legitimise their incomes and Lothian and Borders Police is intent on deterring them by seizing the profits they have gained.

"Trying to recover the ill-gotten gains of those involved in serious organised crime is one of the strands of our strategy to tackle these groups."