Police seize £2 million in cash after five months of…

Police seize £2 million in cash after five months of raids in Greater Manchester

Police have seized £2 million in cash as part of a crack down on criminals since April. One bust included £37k in cash and £10k worth of drugs from a raid in Wythenshawe.

Greater Manchester Police’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) continues to crack down on illegal proceeds of crime.

The Asset Detention and Recovery Unit have successfully obtained forfeiture orders at court to the value of £2 million, entirely made up from seized criminal cash. The £37k found during a search of an address in Wythenshawe where a kilo of cannabis was also seized and had an estimated worth of £10k at street level, with digital scales and vacuum packs also found in the property.

At another warrant executed in Oldham, officers seized drugs and just over £18k in cash.

Detective Sergeant Sarah Langley, from our Asset Detention and Recovery Unit, said: “The ADRU team is dedicated to recovering criminal assets and dismantling networks that are involved in crime to ensure that the money is taken from criminals and re-invested into our communities. The forfeiture of £2 million is a huge achievement for our team, but our work does not stop here, we will continue to crack down on criminals who think they can reap the benefits of their criminality by using all powers that are available to us under the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize any illicit assets.”

Detective Sergeant Sarah Langley from GMP's Asset Detention and Recovery Unit (GMP)

The large amount of money that has been recovered will now be re-invested by GMP back into policing, as well as local community projects through the Asset Recovery Incentive Scheme (ARIS). Over £50k will be funnelled into the GetAwayNGetSafe (GANGS) project, just one of many community led programmes which will benefit from the recent forfeitures. The project delivers early intervention aimed at young people to challenge attitudes towards gang culture, knife carrying and social responsibility. ARIS funding was successfully granted in 2021 to pilot the initiative across 20 schools in Moss Side, Wythenshawe and Longsight and due to its successes, the funding is being used to roll this out across further areas.

The Economic Crime Unit has been recognised for their exemplary work in disrupting the financial networks that allow serious and organised criminals to prosper. Earlier last year, the Asset Detention and Recovery Unit won Team of the Year at the Chief Constable's Awards in 2021 for their dedication and hard work.

Temporary Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop, of GMP's Economic Crime Unit, said: “With our total cash forfeitures this financial year now reaching over £2 million, it shows another very positive result for one of our asset recovery teams. Alongside our Asset Detention Recovery Unit, who deal with seized cash and listed assets, we have a Confiscation and Restraint Unit and a new Account Freezing Order Team so we are equipped to take ill-gotten gains in every guise.

“It doesn’t matter the lengths criminal groups take to conceal them, whether it be through assets such as cash, bank accounts and high value items, we will investigate, forfeit and reinvest this money back into the communities of Greater Manchester. Our focus remains heavily on disrupting serious and organised crime networks by seizing their ill-gotten finances which create foundations for further criminality.”

Anyone with concerns or information about suspicious financial activity, should report to police online, if able, at www.gmp.police.uk or via 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.