A LYDBROOK woman has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

The 41-year-old, from Joys Green, was one of 12 people arrested last week after Gloucestershire Police carried out a three-day operation on properties in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean.

Police officers from the crime operations team carried out warrants at 10 addresses between September 10 and 12. Operation Apollo officers arrested 12 people, the majority of whom were arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences.

They identified money totalling approximately £700,000 leaving the UK, to where police believe is Jamaica, over a period of time. The operation also seized a large amount of financial documentation, amounts of suspected class A and class B drugs, telephones and IT equipment.

Officers have confirmed there are still people they wish to speak to and enquiries are ongoing to locate them.

Detective Constable Jon Hume from the crime operations team at Gloucestershire Constabulary said: "We consider the operation so far a great success and, while our operation is continuing, we hope it reassures the public that we can and do tackle crime at all levels.

"This week we have shown a different dimension to tackling criminal offences and those involved in various areas of crime. While we regularly focus on the offences of criminal groups this operation is aimed at tackling the financial gains made through their crimes, which can have a huge effect on the lives of those involved in such offences and make it extremely difficult for them to launder their criminal gains in the future.

"We want people involved in criminal offences of all kinds in Gloucestershire to understand that it is only a matter of time before they are caught and that we will do everything within our power to make sure they do not benefit from their criminal activity.

"We would like, as always, to thank the public for their support of our operation. By calling us on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with information you have about criminal activity we can target those involved and see them put before the courts."

The woman of Rocks Road, Joys Green, has been bailed until December 12.