Metropolitan Police officers investigating one of the most high-profile organised crime gangs in the UK raided homes in East Sussex today.

Seven people were arrested by detectives investigating the operation codenamed Octopod.

A Met Police spokesman said: “The group, which include a trained accountant-turned-property developer and a solicitor, are believed to have laundered large sums of money through an investment scheme.

“Some also have known links to violence and other serious crime, spanning many years.

“Around 50 officers and specialist financial investigators from the London Regional Asset Recovery Team, the Territorial Support Group, the dog unit, local police teams and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs executed search warrants at seven residential addresses across London, Kent, Surrey and East Sussex at approximately 6.30am.

“The addresses are on Fairmount Avenue, Limehouse, Sylvia Court, Shoreditch, Shirehall Lane, Hendon, Windermere Avenue, Finchley; Alexander Road, Dartford, Hill View, Dorking, and Camber Sands, Rye.

“A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) production order was also served on an accountant’s office.”

Those arrested and in custody include a man believed to be in his 40s, from Finchley, for money laundering and cheating the public revenue, a woman believed to be in her 40s, from Finchley, for money laundering, a man believed to be in his 60s, from Hendon, for money laundering, a woman believed to be in her 30s, from Dartford, for money laundering, a man believed to be in his 30s, from Limehouse, for money laundering and theft, a man believed to be in his 50s, from Dorking, for money laundering and a woman believed to be in her 70s, from Shoreditch, for money laundering.