Police probing the alleged laundering of £16million linked to Chinese crime gangs have made 11 arrests in Belfast.
The suspected 'dirty money' was paid into thousands of bank accounts right across the UK from Northern Ireland over the last year and a half.
Six properties in the city were searched with support from National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force yesterday.
Five women, between 32 and 60, and six men, aged 35 to 67, are being quizzed on suspicion of "money laundering". On Tuesday morning, police confirmed two men, aged 44 and 48, had been charged with a number of money laundering offences and were due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wilson said: "During our investigation we identified that a significant volume of suspected criminal cash was being laundered out of the country through a number of bank accounts held here in Northern Ireland.
"In total, almost £16million has been deposited to thousands of bank accounts across the UK from the accounts since January 2018.
"We believe that the majority of this money is derived from a range of criminal activity carried out by Chinese organised crime groups."
The searches, which were carried out yesterday, involved "officers from neighbourhood and local policing teams and colleagues from PSNI’s Operational Support Department".
DCI Wilson added: "We carried out a large scale search and arrest operation targeting individuals suspected of money laundering through bank accounts.
"Six men aged 67, 48, 44, 42, 41 and 35 and five women aged 60, 38, 36, 34 and 32 were arrested during today’s operation which was supported by partners in the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force and is part of UK wide operation, led by the National Economic Crime Centre.
"Money laundering is often a critical enabler of organised criminality and today’s operation is part of a wider ongoing investigation.
"We are committed to keeping people safe by robustly pursuing those who are involved in laundering criminally derived money and enabling criminals to access the profits gained from their involvement in a range of illegal activities.
"I would appeal for anyone with any information on this type of activity to contact Police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
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