Six luxury vehicles seized after arrest

Six luxury cars were seized during raids in Seaham and a man has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering as part of an investigation into serious and organised crime.

Two Rolls Royces, a Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz cars valued at more than £500,000wereseized by officers from the North East RegionalEconomicCrime Unit(RECU)inSeaham on Tuesday.

The raids took place at addresses in Weybourne Lea and Jubilee Avenue, both in Seaham, and a search was also carried out at a property in Borough Road, in Middlesbrough.

A 39-year-old was arrested in Seaham on suspicion of fraud and money laundering. He has since been interviewed by officers and releasedunderinvestigation.

The seizures were part of Operation Sentinel – a joint operation involving Durham Constabulary, Northumbria PoliceandClevelandPoliceto target serious and organised crime in the region.

Detective Inspector Mick Ryan, who led the operation, said:“OfficersfromtheNorth East Regional Economic Crime Unit working alongside policing partners conducted search operations in Seaham and Middlesbrough.

“The searches were conducted in connection with an investigation into serious and organised fraud against vehicle finance companies.

“As a result of today’s policingoperation,sixhighspec sport and prestige vehicles worth an estimated value of £500,000 have been recovered, and a local 39-year-old man has been arrested.

“Everyone should be awarethatobtainingfinance byfraudisaseriousoffence.”