Met Police Arrest 17 in Major Operation Against Organised Crime Network
Around 800 officers raided 24 addresses across London and four counties, arresting 17 people in a coordinated strike on a crime syndicate linked to suspected gangster David Hunt.
Around 800 Metropolitan Police officers carried out coordinated raids on 24 addresses across London and four surrounding counties, arresting 17 people in one of the force's largest recent operations against organised crime. The operation targeted a notorious crime syndicate allegedly linked to suspected gangster David Hunt, known by the nickname «Long Fella».
The raids, which took place simultaneously, involved officers from multiple units and were supported by local forces in the counties surrounding the capital. Seventeen suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to commit robbery, money laundering, and drug trafficking. The scale of the operation — involving hundreds of officers and dozens of properties — reflects the priority the Met has placed on dismantling networks it believes are responsible for a range of serious crimes across the South East.
David Hunt, who has been described in previous investigations as a significant figure in London's criminal underworld, has not been charged in connection with this operation. The arrests are part of a broader investigation into the syndicate's activities, which police believe extend beyond the capital into neighbouring counties. The operation follows months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, according to sources familiar with the case.
The Met Police said the arrests were made without incident and that searches of the properties were ongoing. Firearms and cash were reportedly recovered at some of the addresses, though police have not yet confirmed the total value of seized items. Those arrested are being questioned at police stations across London and the surrounding region.
Organised crime networks of this kind are often involved in multiple criminal enterprises, including drug distribution, armed robbery, and extortion. The Met has increasingly focused on disrupting such groups by targeting their leadership and financial infrastructure, rather than simply arresting low-level operatives. This operation appears to follow that strategy, with arrests spanning several suspected key figures within the network.
The involvement of four county forces highlights the cross-border nature of modern organised crime, which frequently operates across police force boundaries. Coordination between the Met and regional forces has become a central element of the UK's response to serious and organised crime, particularly when networks based in London extend their activities into home counties and beyond.
Local residents in the areas raided expressed surprise at the scale of the police presence, with some describing armed officers and police vehicles blocking streets during the early morning operation. The Met has not released the names of those arrested, and investigations are continuing. Charges are expected to follow as suspects are processed and evidence is reviewed.
The operation represents a significant escalation in the Met's efforts to tackle the syndicate, which has been linked to Hunt in previous reporting. Hunt himself has been the subject of separate investigations, though no direct connection between him and the current arrests has been confirmed by police. The Met has declined to comment on any individual's involvement beyond confirming the arrests.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses and suspects are either charged or released under investigation. The Met has urged anyone with information about organised crime in their area to contact police or Crimestoppers anonymously.
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