A MAN has been arrested in Kent on suspicion of drug trafficking and money laundering in one of the largest series of simultaneous police raids.

The address in Cromwell Road, Beckenham, was one of more than 30 addresses raided by the Metropolitan Police’s special intelligence section (SIS) this morning.

Officers found a firearm, about £2,000 and a pepper spray at the location.

The 54-year-old man was taken to a south London police station for questioning.

The raids were carried out across Greater London at 5.30am and police seized an estimated 100 kilos of suspected cocaine and cash as well as several firearms.

The operation targeted a network alleged to be one of the biggest drug trafficker gangs currently in the UK.

Twenty-one other people were also arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and laundering millions of pounds.

It is the largest simultaneous raid by the Territorial Support Group in London, using 520 officers to enter the addresses.

It was believed the network were converting drugs money into 500 Euro notes to launder vast cash profits believed to up to £3 million a week.

Det Supt Steven Richardson, head of SIS said: “Today’s operation has been hugely successful. We believe this network has been supplying drugs around the country, earning millions of pounds every week."

from Bromley Extra