Met Police Target Notorious Crime Syndicate Linked to 'Long Fella' David Hunt

More than 800 Metropolitan Police officers executed dawn raids across London and four surrounding counties, arresting 17 people in a major operation targeting a feared crime syndicate. The operation is believed to have focused on the 'Hunt Syndicate,' a criminal network allegedly involved in offenses ranging from fraud and money laundering to serious violence.

A specialist tactical support officer sustained a stab wound to the leg during the raids, which involved searches at 24 properties. The injured officer received on-site treatment and was taken to the hospital; their injuries are not considered life-changing.

The investigation, a result of many months of work, was conducted by Met organized crime detectives in collaboration with His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Authorities believe the syndicate is headed by David Hunt, nicknamed 'Long Fella' due to his 6ft 5in height. Hunt, who has previously denied criminal links and has no convictions, is described as a legitimate businessman. A police van was observed leaving Hunt's seven-bedroom mansion in Essex, where searches were ongoing.

Properties were also raided in Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Suffolk. Searches are expected to continue for several days.

The youngest person arrested was a 26-year-old man, suspected of involvement in an organized crime group, money laundering, tax evasion, and false accounting. The oldest individual arrested was a 65-year-old man, facing suspicion of participating in an organized crime group, conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm (GBH), money laundering, and tax evasion.

A spokesperson for the Met Police stated that the arrests represent a significant development in the investigation, with those apprehended suspected of holding senior roles in serious and organized crime and related financial offenses. The force emphasized the wide-reaching impact of such criminal activities and the complex nature of investigating these groups, requiring collaboration with agencies like HMRC and the FCA.

David Hunt's background includes being raised in East London, becoming an amateur boxer, and previously running waste management and scrap metal businesses before moving into property development. He has been linked to figures in the sports and entertainment industries.

The Hunt syndicate was previously named in a Metropolitan Police intelligence report from the early 2000s concerning crime gangs allegedly aided by corrupt officers. In 2013, Hunt pursued an unsuccessful libel case against The Sunday Times for referring to him as a 'crime lord.'

Representatives from the FCA and HMRC highlighted the importance of the joint operation and continued collaboration in tackling financial crime and disrupting organized crime groups that exploit the financial system for money laundering.