Three arrested in suspected insider-dealing and money-laundering probe
The FCA and the National Crime Agency searched five homes in London and Manchester.
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Three people have been arrested in a joint investigation into suspected insider dealing and money laundering, the Financial Conduct Authority said on Tuesday. More than 100 staff from the FCA and the National Crime Agency searched five homes and seized digital devices.
The arrests followed an operation led by the FCA and the National Crime Agency against what the regulator described as a suspected organised criminal group. The three suspects were arrested on 13 October and were being interviewed at police stations in London and Manchester.
The FCA said investigators searched five residential properties in the two cities. More than 30 mobile phones, laptops and tablets were seized during the searches. The regulator did not identify the suspects or provide details of the securities, companies or alleged trading activity at the centre of the investigation.
The arrests do not amount to charges or convictions. The FCA said it could not comment further at this stage and would provide more information when appropriate. That leaves the alleged roles of the suspects, the value of any suspected trading and the possible money-laundering arrangements unclear.
Steve Smart, the FCA’s executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said insider dealing was a serious threat to market integrity. He said the regulator would continue working with partners to target organised crime groups involved in market abuse.
The operation comes as the FCA reports increased enforcement activity in this area. In the 2025-26 financial year, it secured four insider-dealing convictions. Two of those cases resulted in prison sentences totalling 11 years, which the regulator described as record sentences.
The FCA also said 12 people were fined a combined £1.77 million during the same financial year for insider dealing, market manipulation and making misleading statements. Those figures cover completed enforcement work and do not indicate the outcome of Tuesday’s arrests.
Insider dealing involves using confidential information to gain an unfair advantage in financial markets. The FCA’s announcement gives no indication that investors or a particular listed company have suffered losses in this case, and no finding of wrongdoing has been made against the three people arrested.
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The central events and all stated figures are supported by the FCA’s announcement and an independent Reuters report. No unsupported claims about guilt, identities or the alleged trading have been included.
- confirmed Three people were arrested on 13 October in a joint FCA and National Crime Agency operation. — Confirmed in the FCA press release and Reuters report. source
- confirmed More than 100 staff searched five residential premises in London and Manchester. — Stated by the FCA and repeated by Reuters. source
- confirmed More than 30 mobile phones, laptops and tablets were seized. — Confirmed by the FCA. source
- confirmed The suspects were being interviewed at police stations in London and Manchester. — Confirmed by the FCA announcement. source
- confirmed The FCA secured four insider-dealing convictions in 2025-26, with two cases producing prison sentences totalling 11 years. — Confirmed in the FCA’s 2025-26 figures. source
- confirmed Twelve people were fined a combined £1.77 million for specified market-abuse offences in 2025-26. — Confirmed in the FCA press release. source
Editor's note
The arrests, searches, seized devices and FCA enforcement figures are confirmed. The identities, alleged transactions, suspected proceeds and any eventual charges were not disclosed.Sources
- Three arrests in major FCA operation against criminal insider dealing ring — Financial Conduct Authority
- UK police arrest three suspected of involvement in insider dealing ring — Reuters
More on this in other media
- BBC News — „insider dealing”
- The Guardian — „insider dealing”
- Sky News — „insider dealing”