Police deposit box raids net £35m

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The Metropolitan Police has seized £35m during an operation targeting safety deposit boxes used by criminal gangs.

Officers also recovered guns, drugs, child pornography and even illegal elephant tusks when 3,500 deposit boxes at three London centres were raided.

About 40 people were also arrested during the raids, which police said had made an impact on criminal gangs nationally and globally.

The raids follow by an earlier raid on a safe depository business in June.

Human trafficking

"I think it has had a dramatic impact," said Det Ch Insp Mark Ponting.

"Some of the organised criminal networks that placed their funds in the premises never expected to have them recovered by the police.

"It has had an impact globally, there's no doubt about that."

Police said three bases of Safe Deposit Centres Limited, in Edgware, Park Lane and Hampstead, were at the centre of the probe.

Operation Rize indicated links to paedophilia, firearms, trafficking, prostitution and money laundering.

Detectives are currently investigating a box - not accessed for more than 10 years - that contained a hammer, chisel and pipe wrench.

"There is clearly a story behind these items - to retain it within a secure facility heightens the suspicion," said Mr Ponting.

About 700 box holders were currently being investigated for tax evasion.

Of the money held, £20m has been detained through the courts and £15m referred to Customs and Revenue officers.

More than 60 officers are working full-time on the inquiry, expected to cost more than £1m.