Detectives swooped on houses in Finchley and Hendon as they arrested three people linked to one of the UK's most high profile organised crime gangs this morning.

Search warrants were carried out at seven residential addresses including Shirehall Lane, Hendon and Windermere Avenue, Finchley as part of the operation, codenamed Octopod.

They arrested seven people in total, including an accountant-turned-property developer and a solicitor, who are believed to have laundered large sums of money through an investment scheme.

Some also have known links to violence and other serious crime over many years.

During the raids, officers seized financial documents, computers and mobile phones as well as approximately £100,000 cash.

A man believed to be in his 40s, from Finchley, was arrested for money laundering and cheating the public revenue, and a woman in her 40s, from Finchley, was also arrested for money laundering.

A man believed to be in his 60s, from Hendon, was also arrested for money laundering.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Manson of the MPS specialist, organised and economic crime command, said: "The group as a whole is known to be involved in serious and violent crime which is harming people and damaging communities across London.

“We believe that they - with other members of the group - are responsible for a multi-million pound criminal business, the proceeds of which are laundered and either pumped into other illegal money-making schemes or spent on luxurious living.”