Items and cash were seized at properties in a Glasgow area after they were searched as part of an investigation following the arrest of an alleged money launderer in Spain.

As part of a major international investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), a man was detained by officers from the Guardia Civil in Malaga on Monday, September 12, alongside his wife and another alleged associate. 

They allegedly created a brand of vodka promoted in nightclubs and restaurants across the Costa Del Sol to disguise their earnings.

Prompted by the arrest, searches were carried out in Stepps in Glasgow on Tuesday, September 13, by officers from the Organised Crime Partnership, a joint unit comprising NCA and Police Scotland staff.

A number of items including documents, mobile phones and a quantity of cash were seized. No arrests were made in the UK.

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The Irish national was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Asset Control in the United States in April 2022, following an investigation involving the NCA.

The US Department of the Treasury designated him as having provided support to the Kinahan organisation.

National Crime Agency Deputy Director of Investigations Matt Horne said: “The Kinahan organised crime network transcends national boundaries, which is why international law enforcement operations like this are necessary.

“The NCA has played a crucial role. We said at the time sanctions were imposed on the Kinahans back in April that we would not stop there, and we continue to explore every possible method of disrupting their criminal activity.

“Tackling the people who handle money for them is crucial, which is why this operation has been so significant, taking out a key component of the crime group’s wider network.”