Police raid homes across region in drug smuggling investigation
Detectives today raided addresses in the Black Country and Birmingham in connection to a suspected drug smuggling and money laundering ring with connections to Canada and Scotland.
Officers from West Midlands Police targeted the properties in West Bromwich, Darlaston and Aston this morning where a 21-year-old man and three women aged 20, 23 and 29 were arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
It follows last week's arrest and subsequent charging of four Black Country men who are believed to be involved with importing and supplying cocaine – one was remanded in custody and three were bailed to appear before Wolverhampton Crown Court in August.
Today's arrests took place in Ames Road and Crankenhall Lane in West Bromwich, Whitehouse Avenue, Darlaston and Fenmoth Road in Aston.
The arrests follow a long-running investigation after a 24-year-old woman was arrested in Canada in February 2012 and later convicted of attempting to import drugs into the UK concealed inside food packaging. Detectives believed the drugs were destined for distribution across the West Midlands and Scotland.
Officers will continue to question the four suspects arrested today after inquiries revealed that large amounts of cash had been deposited into bank accounts.
Det Ch Insp Simon Wallis, from the Gangs Task Force, said: "Today's arrests are part of a larger operation investigating the illegal supply of Class A through the West Midlands and as far as Scotland.
"We will always investigate the supply chain of drugs and cash and the connection it has to fund crime.
"Drug crime impacts at the heart of communities; we will not tolerate drug criminality and will investigate any allegations fully.
Last week four men aged 23, 30, 34 and 40 were arrested from addresses across the Black Country. They were later charged with conspiracy to supply drugs.
