Luxury watches and almost £100,000 cash have been seized after a police crackdown on money laundering in Greater Manchester. Police arrested two men after a string of searches in Cheetham Hill as well as one in Mossley, Tameside.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police's Economic and Cyber Crime Team and Specialist Operations team swooped on the properties yesterday (September 7). It led to £97,800 in cash being recovered, as well as a number of high value watches.
The two men, aged 29 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of money laundering. They remain in custody for questioning this afternoon (Thursday).
Temporary Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop, of the Economic and Cyber Crime Team, said: “This seizure is another very positive result for Op Falcon who despite being set up less than four months ago, has already seen hundreds of thousands pounds seized. Cash-based money laundering costs the UK economy billions of pounds and is illicit cash which often serves as the motivator for serious and organised crime.
"Operation Falcon will continue and we’ll be carrying on with targeting those suspected to be involved in money laundering and aim to seize their assets and cash so they can be reinvested into the communities who need it. No matter how hard attempts are made to hide the money through front businesses, we will find it, forfeit it, and reinvest it back into the community of Greater Manchester.”
Anyone with information about suspicious financial activity is asked to report it to GMP online through the force's crime reporting form, on Live Chat or by calling 101. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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