Tanning boss held after Police raids

A tanning studio boss was arrested today and his wife's £130,000 Bentley seized during dramatic raids linked to a major investigation into an organised crime racket in the Black Country.

A loaded gun, cash and drugs were among items recovered in a number of co-ordinated searches of homes and shops in the area involving 100 officers.

Darren Bradley, the 41-year-old owner of Elite Tanning studios which has a branch in Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, and two others in Bilston and Coseley, was arrested after police smashed their way into his £500,000 home on Penn Road near Gospel End, Sedgley, just after 7am.

At least two other arrests have also been made following a year-long investigation into "iconic" criminality which began as a drugs probe but escalated to include alleged money laundering.

Police were today searching the tanning shops at the Three Tuns island in Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, Bilston High Street and Castle Street in Coseley, while officers remained outside Bradley's home.

Cannabis worth thousands of pounds was discovered in plastic bags in the boot of a car during the raids. Three other addresses were also being searched today in Bradley, Bilston and Penn. A caravan in Somerset was also being raided as part of the probe, codenamed Operation Syndicate.

Bradley and his 45-year-old wife Sharon Ann have owned the property and lived there for more than two years.

Neighbours of the smart house within sight of Penn Golf Club were today stunned by the raid.

One man who lives next door said: "I was in bed when the police arrived. I haven't got a clue what's going on but this is not the sort of thing you want happening on your doorstep. The couple who live there have never caused me any trouble."

Det Sgt Mick Postin, of the Wednesfield-based Operation Engage drugs, guns and gangs team, said today: "This has been a protracted investigation lasting more than nine months.

"We have been acting on intelligence surrounding people who appear to be living far above what we believe their earnings to be."

Residential addresses targeted today include Britannia Road, Bradley, Gordon Place, Bilston and Manor Road, Penn. A handgun was recovered in one of the raids, while luxury items including a jet ski were also discovered.

Det Ch Insp Derek Quinn, of Wednesfield Police, added: "Today's raids were as a result of a long-term investigation into iconic criminality in our communities.

"It was the first of a number of raids on an organised crime group in the Black Country and beyond involving offences of drugs supply and money laundering."