UK police arrest 17 in major organised-crime raids as FCA acts against seven firms

British police arrested 17 people on Tuesday as part of a major operation against organised crime groups, with the Financial Conduct Authority disrupting seven firms and investigating a further 30.

The suspects were arrested on suspicion of charges ranging from money laundering to false accounting and tax evasion, police said in a statement on Tuesday. The operation involved 800 officers working alongside the country’s financial regulator.

The action followed a months-long investigation. Properties in London, south-east England and eastern England were raided in the early hours of Tuesday, and police said those arrested were suspected of being involved at a senior level in serious and organised crime.

The FCA said joint action was key to disrupting groups “who abuse our financial system to launder dirty money”.

Sources

• Reuters, “UK police targeting organised crime make 17 arrests, investigate financial firms”, Tue 29 Sep 2026 07:48:09 +0000
• Anadolu Agency (anews), “UK police targeting organized crime make 17 arrests, investigate financial firms”, published 29 September 2026 11:43 AM