Detectives from PSNI Organised Crime Branch, working with colleagues in the South Eastern Regional Organised Crime Unit, Sussex Police and Lancashire Police have arrested five people and conducted a total of 12 searches at properties in Northern Ireland, Sussex and Lancashire.
The investigation is focusing on number of serious offences including blackmail, fraud, money laundering and offences under the Serious Crime Act 2007.
Two men aged 39 and 54 were arrested along with two women aged 31 and 48, during searches in County Fermanagh on Monday. Armed police searches were carried out at Sallys Wood in Irviinestown and on Lisnaskea’s Main Street. A fifth man arrested in Sussex was questioned and subsequently released.
Detective Inspector Andy Hamlin said: “This proactive operation against organised criminality was made possible because of the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the United Kingdom.”