SIX people have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering by a new elite police team.

About 40 officers from Cleveland Police carried out a series of early morning raids, which targeted four houses in Ingleby Barwick, Norton and Middlesbrough, today.

As a result of what was found, the team also moved in to search another property in Norton.

Four men and two women, all aged between 24 and 38, were taken to Middlesbrough Police Station, where they will be questioned.

The raids were the first to be carried out by the money laundering team, a small group of investigators within the Economic Crime Unit.

Detective Inspector Bill Matthews said: "Today's raids are part of an ongoing investigation. We are operating under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which is designed to ensure criminality does not pay.

"It is designed to ensure that people should not benefit from any criminal activities and that the full power of the law will be used to recoup cash, valuables and property that have been acquired through illegal means."

He said the searches were on-going, but several thousand pounds in cash had been recovered.

The operation, codenamed Meltham, was part of a series deigned to dismantle organised crime in the Cleveland area.