Four men have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling money from the UK to Albania. 

A series of co-ordinated raids were carried out on Saturday (April 13) beginning with a 48-year-old Albanian national being arrested in Dover. 

Around £200,000 in cash was seized from his vehicles which the National Crime Agency (NCA) alleges was en route to Albania. 

Raids were also carried out at addresses in Tottenham Hale. 

Two men, aged 34 and 22, and a 17-year-old boy were arrested and around £150,000 in cash was seized from a second vehicle. 

The NCA said it had been investigating the group for two years. 

Officers allege the gang operates under the guise of a legitimate courier company but specialises in transferring other Albanian-run gangs illicit cash out of the country. 

NCA operations manager Paul Orchard said: “Money launderers enable other serious and organised criminals – such as drugs and firearms dealers - to commit their horrendous offences which so badly damage our society."

The investigation began in February 2022 when Border Force stopped the 48-year-old at the outbound Channel Tunnel controls at Folkestone. 

Inside his van was a total of £390,000 wrapped in various tin foil packages. 

His home in Haringey was then searched and officers found a further £150,000 in cash. 

The 34-year-old was previously arrested in September 2022 when officers discovered more than £20,000 in his car. 

The NCA seized a further £43,980 in August 2023.

Both men remained under investigation until they were arrested again on Saturday (April 13). They have since been released on conditional bail. 

The 22-year-old man and 17-year-old boy have been released under investigation pending further enquires.