Police raided homes and offices in London and the Isle of Man as part of a criminal investigation into the supply of government personal protective equipment at the start of the pandemic.
Officers seized financial documents and electronic devices, but did not make arrests in a series of discrete and coordinated attacks.
A special unit of the National Crime Agency is believed to have secretly investigated allegations of trafficking fraud for about a year.
Controversy has boosted huge demand for PPE in early 2020 as the government struggled to find enough clothing and masks to protect the health of other key workers in the midst of the pandemic.
Some supply companies made huge profits at the expense of the taxpayer and sometimes failed to deliver on their promises, with non-standard PPE being rejected.
The Isle of Man police were involved in the search after discussions with the NCA, which has no jurisdiction over the island, self-governing dependence on the British Crown and a tax haven.
IoM police told Sky News: “The Isle of Man police, in support of an ongoing NCA investigation, have carried out search warrants at four Mann addresses. No arrests were made. “
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The NCA said: “The NCA does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations or the names of those who may or may not be investigated.
It is speculated that several targets of investigators may be invited for an interview in the coming weeks.
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