An international bribery investigation has brought the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to Kent.

Five properties have been searched and three arrests have been made as part of the investigation into UK infrastructure company Blu-3 and former associates of the global construction firm Mace Group.

Individuals at Blu-3 are suspected of paying more than £3 million in bribes to former associates of Mace Group in relation to the construction of a data centre in the Netherlands for technology giant Microsoft.

More than 70 SFO staff searched four homes and one commercial property in London, Kent, Surrey and Somerset on April 30 to seize evidence.

Infrastructure provider Blu-3 has a head office in New Hythe Lane in Aylesford but would not comment on whether it had been searched.

However, a Blu-3 spokesperson said the company was “fully cooperating” with the SFO, adding it took the matters “extremely seriously”.

As part of the operation, a search of a suspect’s premises by Monaco authorities also took place.

The SFO announced the new multi-million pound European data centre bribery investigation, which is also supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA), on April 30.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP attended one of the arrests in north London.

She said: “Bribery undermines the values of fairness and playing by the rules, and hurts individuals, businesses, and our wider economy.”

“As part of our Plan for Change, this government is committed to tackling all forms of bribery to protect working people and ensure criminals are brought to justice.”

Speaking on the day of the arrests, Nick Ephgrave QPM, director of the SFO said: “Paying bribes to do business undermines our financial markets, the reputation of British companies and the rule of law and will not be tolerated.

“Today’s action is a reminder that we will take rapid and robust action to tackle suspected bribery and corruption wherever it appears – at home and overseas.”

Blu-3 appears to have an ongoing association with Mace based on its website, having previously worked with the construction company on projects including The Shard in London.

A company spokesperson said: “Blu-3 is currently supporting an external SFO investigation and is fully cooperating with the agency.

“We take matters of this nature extremely seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct across all of our operations.”

Mace has been contacted for a comment.