THE founder of ShelterBox has been arrested on suspicion of fraud and money-laundering offences.
Tom Henderson was one of three men arrested as part of a continuing fraud inquiry.
In a statement, Devon and Cornwall Police said three search warrants were executed last Wednesday by officers in connection with an ongoing fraud investigation.
It added: "A 62-year-old man from Helston, a 33-year-old man from Hayle and a 40-year-old man from Beaminster in Dorset have all been arrested on suspicion of committing fraud and money-laundering offences."
It said three properties where the arrests took place have also been searched and items removed for analysis by detectives from the Economic Crime Unit.
The three men have been released on bail until December while detectives carry out further inquiries.
Mr Henderson founded ShelterBox in 2000 and was appointed OBE in 2010 for services to humanitarian aid.
He was dismissed from the Helston-based charity in July last year and has since launched his own international aid charity.
ShelterBox said it had been "made aware" a former member of staff had been arrested.
In a statement, the charity said: "The employee in question was dismissed from his role with ShelterBox in July 2012, and is no longer connected with the charity.
"We are confident that his arrest is in no way related to ShelterBox's current activities."
ShelterBox delivers survival equipment in large green boxes to disaster areas around the world.
Mr Henderson told the West Briton he did not feel it appropriate to comment at this time.
