A CASH stash of more than £1.1million has been seized from the homes of a fast food worker and a cabbie.

Police discovered bundles of notes in simultaneous raids on two houses in Crosland Moor as part of an intelligence-led investigation into suspected money laundering.

They said the money, totalling £1.13million, was believed to have been linked to serious crime. Five large bagfulls of cash were seized.

Neighbours described hearing the security alarm go off as police smashed the door in at a £260,000 detached property on Pembroke Court.

Javed Iqbal, 37, and his 35-year-old wife, Yasmin, were led away by plain-clothes detectives.

Mr Iqbal works at a takeaway on Blackmoorfoot Road. Mrs Iqbal is thought to have a part-time council position.

At the same time, officers swooped on a semi-detached house on nearby Thornleigh Road.

Mohammed Jamil, 44, who is employed by Blackmoorfoot Road company AG Taxis was arrested, along with 41-year-old Zahida Parveen.

A number of cars were seized by police in connection with the investigation, but a VW Golf with the personalised number plate G2 Jav was still outside the Pembroke Court house yesterday.

Temporary Superintendent Dave Knopwood, of Kirklees police, said: “The operation was carried out under the Proceeds of Crime Act as we strongly suspected that the cash seized was linked to serious offences that have taken place in the region.”

The drama unfolded at about 3.45pm on Thursday when police teams convened on both Thornleigh Road, a quiet residential road of mainly semi-detached properties, and Pembroke Court, a cul-de-sac of stone-built detached houses.

Darrell Field, who lives on Pembroke Court said: “I heard the burglar alarm go off.

“The police must have brayed the door in to get in. Then they were taken away.”

He added: “The couple who live there paid about £260,000 for it. They don’t throw money around, but their house was immaculate and they recently did their garage out as an extra room.

“They are the ideal neighbours – really quiet, keep themselves to themselves.”

Another neighbour, Dorothy Anderson, said a search of the property went on for several hours on Thursday night.

Scene of crime officers spent a large amount of time in the garage taking pictures.

She added: “We don’t really have a lot to do with them.

“They were burgled about six months back and the woman had her handbag stolen and everyone was asking if she was all right, but other than that we didn’t really talk.

Residents of Thornleigh Road said police spent hours searching the raided house.

One, who did not want to be named, said: “From about 4.30pm onwards there was lots of coming and going – there were police cars and vans blocking the gateway and armed police.

“They came out with about 10 to 12 bags which filled the back of a BMW which went away with its blue lights flashing.”

The woman said the arrested man would spend long periods away from home, reportedly in Pakistan.

“They kept themselves to themselves,” she said.

Temporary Supt Knopwood said money seized from criminals could be ploughed back into the community.

He said: “Where we do prove that cash seized under the act is a result of criminal activity, it often ends up going back into the community or is used to fund more police operations.

“I appeal to the public to tell us about anyone they suspect is living beyond their means as a result of crime.

“There are criminals in West Yorkshire who are living off the proceeds of crime. Why should they?”

Anyone with suspicions about criminal profits can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or visit www.whyshouldthey.com.