A GROUP of 10 individuals have been convicted of money laundering after a two year investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (ZEPHYR).

The members of a drug network, all from London, were arrested after they were found to be operating in Swindon from late 2014 to mid 2015.

Officers from Swindon’s Dedicated Crime Team and Zephyr, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) collaborated on the case through a series of warrants and arrests.

The following eight people from the organised crime group pleaded guilty to charges relating to money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act for allowing their bank accounts to be used in converting the proceeds of the drug dealing: Nabil Atallah, 22, Anwar Mohammed Habib, 23, Muhammed Mohammed, 21, Yasmin Omar, 21, Nasir Osman, 21, Hamse Qodah, 21, Abdulkadir Sufi, 22, and Guled Mahmed Osman, 22.

But Ibttiham Habib, 24, and Ahmed Hussein, 22, pleaded not guilty to the same offences of money laundering.

Last week they were found guilty by a jury at Swindon Crown Court. All are from the Ilford area of East London.

Detective Constable Elizabeth Millington, of the Zephyr SWROCU, said: “This case is a result of the involvement of the Criminal Finance Team from SWROCU and relates to money laundering.

"This drug network had been operating in Swindon for almost a year. Through a series of warrants, we were able to make a number of arrests at addresses in Swindon and across the country.

“During these warrants a number of mobile phones were seized which contained the bank account details of the 10 people who have been now convicted.

"Through extensive enquiries we found that these people had been laundering the proceeds of crime through their bank accounts. They were arrested by the Criminal Finance Team over a three month period.”

Sentencing of all those involved will take place at a date yet to be fixed.