AN armed raid on a Kenton Tory councillor's house led to two arrests for money laundering, police confirmed.

Firearms officers stormed the home of Brent Councillor Reg Colwill at between 5am and 6am in an operation so dramatic one witness said he thought they might be a hit squad.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and money laundering while a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and immigration offences.

Officers seized a quantity of cash after searching the house, but have not revealed how much, and confirmed the move was one of four drugs raids by Hertfordshire Police.

Cllr Colwill was not arrested and said the two detained men are not his family members but were staying at his home.

He confirmed his youngest daughter was involved but said “not in an illegal way”.

He said: “All I can say is it's nothing to do with my daughter – she's totally innocent. It's nothing to do with me or my family.”

He said he was at a friend's house overnight looking after their dog while they were on holiday and only found out what had happened after getting a phone call this morning.

Neighbour Trishul Shah, 31, said: “There were police with kevlar jackets and helmets and guns. We were told to get back into the house until they gave the all clear which was at about 9am or 9.30am.

“I called the police because they were in unmarked cars so I wasn't sure if it was a private hit squad of somebody's or the police.”

Cllr Colwill said his daughter was in shock following the raid, having already been feeling psychologically vulnerable after being involved in a recent car accident.

He said: “She's in the house with me at the moment and they assured me it's nothing to do with her whatsoever. She's upset obviously.

“The police have been absolutely superb. They've done very little damage. You see in the papers how they go up and smash the front doors in and leave stuff all over the floor but they've been absolutely superb.

“They treated my daughter in a very good way.”

Hertfordshire Police raided three other properties as part of the same operation, including in Rickmansworth where Mark Sylvester, 37, was arrested.

The Vinetree Court resident has since been charged with cultivation of cannabis plants and bailed to return to Watford Magistrates Court on August 27.

Officers also raided a property in Denham, Buckinghamshire, where money was seized, and a fourth in Kelmscott Crescent, Watford.