More than 100 police and investigators from Britain's Serious Fraud Office carried out searches last night (AEDT) at nine properties connected to Securency International, a joint venture between the Reserve Bank of Australia and Innovia Films, a British chemicals manufacturer.

Securency, an Australian-based company that makes polymer films used to protect banknotes, is being jointly investigated by the SFO and the Australian Federal Police.

"It involves the activities of employees and agents of Securency International and their alleged corrupt role in securing international polymer banknote contracts," the SFO said.

Last night (AEDT) investigators and police searched eight homes in Surrey, Hampshire and the Thames Valley, as well as Securency's offices in Cumbria.

It is one of the biggest raids that the SFO has carried out. Two men were arrested. They are believed to be employees of Securency or agents who had acted on behalf of the company.

To read the complete article, see:Police raid RBA's banknote venture in global bribery probe(www.theaustralian.com.au/business/industry-sectors/
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