WOMAN AMONG SEVEN HELD BY POLICE

A suspect was carrying a bank draft for more than pounds 150,000 when
arrested during a cross-border crackdown on money laundering, it
emerged today.

The woman is thought to have visited a bank shortly before she was
detained by Gardai.

In all, seven people were detained in the Republic and one in south
Armagh.

Police sources said the operation was aimed at breaking up a network
which was processing up to pounds 50m generated by crime.

They believe that the cash included the profits of some of the
island's top drug traffickers.

Some 25 addresses were raided in dawn swoops in south Armagh, County
Louth and Dublin.

It's understood that a number of bureaux de change along the border
were also searched, along with business premises.

Police seized a number of items, including documents which are now
being examined by experts at the RUC's Financial Investigations Unit,
as part of the ongoing probe.

Along with colleagues in the Gardai's Criminal Assets Bureau, the RUC
are investigating the movement of cash to accounts throughout the world.