Ten arrests have been made as part of a police operation which targets people who obtain assets by fraudulent and criminal means.

Officers from Herts police’s Economic Crime Unit executed eight warrants last week as part of Operation Payback, with more than £70,000 restrained.

The people arrested include a 50-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of money laundering following the execution of a warrant at an address in Stevenage. Both have been bailed until April 22.

Detective Inspector Steve Keating, from the Economic Crime Unit, said: “Last week’s series of warrants are the latest in several which have been conducted by the unit over recent months. The Proceeds of Crime Act gives us the power to disrupt criminals who think they can benefit from crime and we run regular operations to target them. With these powers, we can seize the profits of their illegal activities and remove these negative influences on our communities.

“These targeted activities were another resounding success in the fight to hurt criminals in the pocket and ensure crime doesn’t pay in Hertfordshire.”