THE seven Barrovians arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit blackmail and money laundering, have been released under investigation.

The group of four men, aged 19, 22, 30 and 37 and three women, aged 36, 38 and 40, were all arrested on Monday, in pre-planned arrests, in the Barrow area.

The arrests were part of an ongoing operation, investigating the exploitation of owners of missing animals.

The investigation started in March 2021, when officers were made aware of reports that owners of missing pets were being targeted with communication online, asking for money for the return of their pets.