Fourteen people were arrested by British Transport Police during raids on a scrap metal recycler in Goole on Wednesday.
Operation Rifle involved officers from British Transport Police’s major investigation team, the national dedicated cable squad, the Force’s High Tech Crime Unit and the Financial Investigation Team supported by North Yorkshire Police, Network Rail, BT and HMRC.
Officers raided and issued search warrants on two premises, Wagstaff Recycling on Long Lane and a house in Templar Close in Goole.
14 people were arrested as part of the operation, six members of staff including the yard owners and management were taken into custody at Selby Police Station and interviewed by detectives.
Eight workers at the yard were also arrested and have been bailed pending further enquiries.
Following the arrests a thorough search of both premises were made by officers.
A cash sniffer dog was also used in the operation and over £62,000 in cash was seized. CCTV and computers, mobile phones and hard drives were seized as evidence.
Detective Inspector Paul Langley, part of BTP’s Major Investigation Team, said:
“This operation targeted a key scrap metal dealer who we suspect of handling stolen metal and profiting from proceeds of metal theft and money laundering.”
