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London police arrest Lankan crime gangs
Gangs which prey on London’s Tamil community were themselves the targets as hundreds of police officers swooped in dawn raids today. More than 250 officers hit 22 addresses across north and east London as part of an ongoing campaign.

Thirteen men, all Sri Lankan, were arrested, and weapons including swords and axes were seized along with large quantities of cash, Scotland Yard said. The raids were part of the ongoing Operation Enver, which is targeting intimidation and crime among the near 100,000-strong Sri Lankan community.

Commander Alfred Hitchcock, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “The majority of the Sri Lankan community are very law abiding, but there are small groups of people taking advantage, intimidating them and committing these offences.

“We have been looking at the criminality and violence within the Tamil community, we have made inroads with these arrests, but it is not the end of the process. There will be more police enforcement.”

Those arrested today were all men aged between 18 and 25. Five were arrested at a single address for suspected theft offences, and police there recovered three swords, three axes, baseball bats and hockey sticks, a credit card reader and credit cards.

At another address five more were arrested, two on suspected money laundering and three on suspected theft and fraud offences. A total of £11,000 was seized from that address, 4,500 blank cheques, 69 credit cards, two computers, 15 video recorders and a £30,000 Mercedes car.

Another man was arrested on a warrant from Northampton, and two more were arrested over a suspected drug deal. Commander Hitchcock said that he could not rule out that some of the offences may be committed to raise funds for the rebel Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka.

But he also stressed that many of the offences may be simply for personal gain. High profile policing was continuing throughout the Sri Lankan communities in London today, and the Yard said a total of 500 officers would have been involved in Operation Enver by this evening.

The six boroughs targeted by police today were Brent, Harrow, Redbridge, Croydon and Newham. A confidential hotline has been set up for Sri Lankans in the hope of them coming forward with information without fear of intimidation. The number is 0800 587 2935 (NEWS.Scotman.com)

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