A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE businessman has been arrested on serious organised crime charges after a series of raids on homes and businesses linked to him.

 

James Nisbet, 65, was held by police officers investigating a large scale counterfeit tobacco and clothing operation.

A team from Police Scotland's Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit searched two business premises and two properties in Lanarkshire as part of the probe on Wednesday.

Included in the raid was Nisbet's home in the Dalziel Park estate in Motherwell and a yard at nearby Biggar Industrial Estate.

Agencies including HMRC, Trading Standards, Department of Work and Pensions and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency also took part in the raids.

Officers seized counterfeit cigarettes and clothing and 45 vehicles were tested for red diesel during the operation.

Property developer and builder Nisbet was arrested and held for questioning before being released. A report is to be sent to the procurator fiscal.

Nisbet was reported to have netted more than £11 million in profit from a major land deal around a decade ago.

He sold the 42-acre former Costain cement works site in Newmains, near Motherwell, for £12m to a developer after buying it for £475,000 in 2001.

Council officials had previously blocked his plan to turn it into a firework factory over safety fears.

Detective Inspector Graeme Naysmith, of the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "During the intelligence-led operation a number of items were seized including counterfeit clothing and counterfeit tobacco.

"A 65-year-old man has been arrested in connection with alleged involvement in serious and organised crime. He is subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.

"Enquiries are ongoing in relation to the items seized during this operation and the information gathered."