NINE suspects have been arrested in connection with fraud, money laundering and insolvency offences involving millions of pounds following raids across three counties.

Three men, aged 50, 53 and 55, and two women, aged 34 and 50, were detained at addresses in Poole last Wednesday.

On the same day a 37-year-old man and a 35-year-old man from Bournemouth were arrested.

A 36-year-old Ringwood man and a woman from Essex were also detained during the joint Dorset Police and Department of Business, Innovation and Skills operation.

Detective Inspector Craig Travers said: “The offences relate to mortgage frauds regarding property deals between 2004 and 2008, concealment of assets from the trustee in bankruptcy during bankruptcy proceedings in 2008 and the subsequent laundering of those assets.

“The nine arrested people have been released on bail pending further police enquiries.

“A further person in London is assisting the police with their enquiry.”

The Daily Echo understands that a residential property in Lilliput and business premises in Canford Cliffs have been searched in connection with the ongoing investigation and files relating to one of those arrested have been taken away from a Bournemouth solicitors’ office.

It is believed that those arrested include prominent local businessmen and their associates.

A woman who witnessed the Lilliput swoop said: “There was a police car, police van and an unmarked car parked outside the detached house and around six to eight police officers.

“Some were in uniform and some were in plain clothes, searching the property and a car parked in the garage.

“They were wearing blue surgical gloves and had what looked like a sniffer dog in a harness.

“They were there at around 7.20am and were still there when I walked past later at around 10am.”

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