More than £400,000 in cash has been seized along with designer goods, cars and artwork after 28 warrants were carried out across five counties.

Essex Police worked with officers in the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate as two warrants were carried out in the county yesterday morning (March 23).

The two warrants were carried out in Maldon and Witham, BBC has reported.

Warrants were also carried out in Suffolk, Kent, Sussex and London.

Officers were targeting individuals who are suspected to be involved in complex fraud or supplying huge quantities of cocaine.

READ MORE >>> Katie Price's fiance Carl Woods appears at Colchester court

Gazette: Luxury watches which have been seized. Photo: Kent PoliceLuxury watches which have been seized. Photo: Kent Police

Alleged financial wrongdoing includes money laundering, tax fraud and falsely claiming Covid-19 bounce back loans.

A total of seventeen arrests were made.

This includes 9 men arrested on suspicion of a variety of drug supply offences which include conspiring to supply large quantities of cocaine. They are aged between 28 and 50.

READ MORE >>> Man hit by train near Braintree named as Coroners inquest opens

A further 7 men and one woman have been arrested on suspicion of a variety of fraud offences which include money laundering, conspiring to cheat the public revenue and concealing criminal property. They are aged between 29 and 53.

Gazette: Some of the other seized items. Photo: Kent PoliceSome of the other seized items. Photo: Kent Police

All of the arrested people remain in custody as enquiries continue.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Pritchard, the head of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "Although we remain at the early stages of our enquiries, significant action has been taken against a group of people who we allege are involved in highly organised, cross-border criminality.

READ MORE >>> Cement mixer overturns on A12 sliproad as emergency services rush to scene

"The activity is a by-product of our outstanding working practices with partner agencies, which for this case includes five police forces and HMRC.

"We believe our shared resources and expertise has caused a significant hit to an organised crime group, and we’re going to continue working in unison to ensure proportionate and robust action is taken."