SUSPECTS in a £10 million fraud investigation have been arrested in Chislehurst and Dover.

HM Revenue and Customs said the operation followed a nine-month probe into suspected excise duty and VAT fraud as well as money laundering.

It said an organised crime gang was thought to have used the profits to fund "substantial property portfolios".

A total of five people have been arrested and more than 30 homes and businesses across the south east raided yesterday. (wed)

HMRC officers detained the suspects in Chislehurst, Dover, Staines, Richmond and New Malden.

They said the suspected fraud was believed to have involved excise duty evasion on large quantities of alcohol and goods bought in the EU being sold on to UK businesses without VAT being paid.