by Keyan Milanian

A Medway man and four others are being questioned over an alleged smuggling and money laundering scam worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The 41-year-old was arrested after a search of an address in Rochester by HM Revenue and Customs officers on Friday.

The arrest is the latest in an ongoing operation that has already seen four arrests, the seizure of more than three tonnes of hand rolling tobacco and £400,000 in cash earlier this month.

Speaking on Friday, John Kay, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: "Today's arrests are believed to have significantly disrupted a major smuggling scam. One of our key priorities is to identify the abuse of our tax systems by criminal gangs who smuggle illicit tobacco products into the UK for their own profit.

"We will intervene and bring those responsible before the courts. Anyone with information on smuggling activities can telephone our 24 hour hotline number 0800 59 5000."

Computers and other documents found at the Rochester property were taken away for further examination, together with a quantity of powder believed to be a controlled drug.

This followed four arrests made earlier in the month and searches at an industrial premises in Surrey .

All five were arrested on suspicion of smuggling and are currently under investigation by HMRC criminal investigators.