Scotland Yard smashed a suspected drugs network that made an estimated 3 million pounds ($5.9 million) a week in simultaneous raids on 30 addresses around London in one of the force's largest operations.
Planned over seven weeks, the operation targeted a network suspected of ``converting drugs money into 500-euro notes to launder vast cash profits'' the force said.
The action early today netted 22 suspects, an estimated 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of suspected cocaine and cash along with firearms, the Metropolitan Police said in an e-mailed statement. The raids involved 520 officers. ``These criminals have been living the lives of wealthy businessmen through criminal activity and today we have put a stop to this,'' Detective Superintendent Steven Richardson said in the statement. Those arrested are suspected ``key players'' involved in cocaine and cannabis distribution. ``They are believed to have substantial connections in Europe, using these contacts to traffic drugs into the U.K.,'' the force said.
The network had been under investigation since August 2007, police said. Before today's action, police arrested more than 10 people and seized drugs, firearms and more than 2.5 million pounds in cash in earlier operations related to the network.
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