Officials investigating alleged money laundering offences and a suspected £16 million tobacco fraud have arrested four people after a string of raids in Kent.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Kent Police and the UK Border Agency searched four properties near Ashford on Tuesday.

They arrested three men, aged 53, 42 and 31, and later questioned a fourth, aged 25, after he walked into an HMRC office yesterday.

All four men have been released on bail while investigations continue.

Martin Brown, assistant director of criminal investigations at HMRC, said: "These raids are the result of a long-running HMRC investigation into the smuggling and illegal sale of hand-rolling tobacco.

"We take excise fraud and the trade in smuggled tobacco goods extremely seriously and will pursue anyone involved in this type of criminality."