A 38-YEAR-OLD woman from St Albans was arrested on suspicion of running a brothel and money laundering offences during a major police crackdown on crime across the county.

Officers raided two properties, one in Watford Road, Bricket Wood and one in Lattimore Road, St Albans on Tuesday September 22 when £71,500 was seized.

The woman, who has been police bailed, was among 16 people arrested in Hertfordshire for money laundering offences, drugs possession and supply, fraud and running a brothel during Operation Payback, which ran from Tuesday, September 16 to Friday, September 25.

A 31-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, both from Luton, were also arrested in Hatfield town centre on suspicion of money laundering on Thursday, September 17.

Officers seized around £90,000 during the operation, which targeted those profiting from crime.

Detective Superintendent Jane Swinburne of the Serious and Organised Crime Group, which led the operation, said: “Operation Paybacks has produced some very positive results and I hope illustrates the type of action we will take against those we suspect are living off the proceeds of crime.

"Although this was a targeted operation, we carry out investigations all year round to tackle those negative role models in society, to show criminals crime doesn’t pay, it costs.”

“Nobody should benefit from crime and I would ask anyone who suspects someone of this, to let us know."