A LUXURY watch shop that sells to Premier League aces was raided by Britain’s FBI who seized £10million in stock in a suspected money laundering probe.
The National Crime Agency swooped on WatchTrader & Co, which flogs timepieces valued up to £300,000, following a surveillance operation.
Just five days earlier, Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez was pictured there.
Other customers include rapper Stormzy, footie pundit Alan Shearer, England stars Callum Wilson and Conor Coady and Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin.
The company trades timepieces on behalf of clients who receive payment once the watches are sold.
Now investigators say anyone who claims to own one of the seized watches must provide a tax return to prove they had the legitimate means to buy it.
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A source said: “This investigation is a huge headache for some of the Premier League’s high-rollers.
“They love their high-end watches as they are the ultimate dressing room status symbol.
“The boys may now face having to submit their payslips and tax returns to prove they could afford the watch if they want them back.”
There is no suggestion any of the previous or current celebrity customers have broken any laws.
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The NCA seized more than 300 watches — including those made by Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet — from the store in Jesmond, Newcastle, at the end of October.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the investigation.
One Richard Mille watch on the firm’s website is almost £290,000.
One customer is understood to have had at least six watches that were being sold by WatchTrader seized — worth more than £1million.
And a businessman attempting to reclaim his £60,000 Rolex told of his frustration at the NCA, which refused to hand it back despite being provided with the receipt.
It sent him an email stating: “The NCA continues to lawfully retain watches seized in connection with suspected offences.
“The release is considered on a case by case basis.”
WatchTrader & Co said its directors are co-operating with the NCA investigation and “continue to trade in the normal way”.
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