Officers from the PSNI’s economic crime unit searched 15 properties across Northern Ireland in an operation targeting the international money laundering of criminal assets worth around £215 million.

Eight searches were carried out yesterday in Banbridge, Newry and Omagh on Monday and seven further searches were carried out in Belfast, Banbridge, Newry and Ballymena yesterday.

The operation involved PSNI liaison with the Garda Economic Crime Bureau (ECB), Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), National Crime Agency (NCA), UK Financial Investigation Unit (UKFIU) and HMRC.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wilson said: “We believe today’s operation is one of the most significant live investigations into money laundering in the UK.”