A BOLTON man has been arrested by police probing a £10 million international money laundering operation.

The 31-year-old man was one of nine people arrested in raids carried across Greater Manchester this morning.

Police swooped on Marsden Road in Bolton, near the town centre, to arrest the man on suspicion of money laundering.

The Bolton suspect is currently being quizzed in police custody.

The money laundering scheme is thought to reach as far as Paris and officers believe the raids have seen them take a significant step to "dismantle" the operation.

Officers carried out the raids following an eight-month investigation, and seized a number of high-value items.

They have been investigating a number of organised crime groups across Europe.

The towed away expensive cars, including Porsches, a Mercedes and a Range Rover, as well as designer handbags, perfume, a significant quantity of cash and laptops.

Seven men and two women aged between 27 and 50 have been arrested on suspicion of international money laundering and all remain in police custody for questioning.

The warrants were executed by officers from Greater Manchester Police and Titan, the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

They took place at a number of properties in Cheetham Hill in Manchester, Salford, Hale Barns, Altrincham, Openshaw, Bolton, Oldham and Sale.

Officers have seized high value cars including Porsches, a Range Rover and a Mercedes, alongside designer handbags and shoes, perfume and a significant amount of cash and laptops.

Det Supt Jason Hudson, Titan’s head of operations said: "The coordinated arrests come as a result of an extensive and thorough eight month long investigation by my team.

“This investigation into money laundering that has a reach far wider than just Manchester, with criminal operations reaching as far as Paris, and we believe as much as £10 million may have been moved.”

“Along with our colleagues from Greater Manchester Police, we have taken a significant step today in dismantling organised crime groups who are damaging communities with illegal money laundering, and the other crime this funds. “We have seized a number of high-value cars today, which I hope will show the public that we will and do strip criminals of their assets.

“I send the message to people involved in this type of crime: your actions will eventually catch up with you and we will knock on your door.

"I would urge decent, law-abiding members of the community who have information about criminality where they live to share that information with their local police force or Crimestoppers so that positive action can be taken."