Police have arrested four people in a crackdown on a multi-million pound money laundering ring.
Officers made the arrests after raiding seven properties in Bury on Thursday morning (March 24). Designer clothing, jewellery and a high quantity of cash and gold were seized during the dawn raids.
Detectives believe the suspected money laundering of an estimated £3 million worth of property is linked to an alleged class A drug empire being run from Pakistan. A total of 70 officers from across Greater Manchester Police took part in the raids alongside colleagues from the National Crime Agency and environmental health and trading standards.
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Two men - aged 28 and 42 - and two women - aged 25 and 35 - were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and fraud, and taken into custody for questioning. They have since been released on bail pending further investigation.
Following the raids, a police tactical aid unit vehicle was spotted park outside a row of houses in Bolton Road, Bury. Detectives say they have applied to Tameside Magistrates Court for the freezing of around £170,000 in bank accounts linked to the suspects. It could lead to those behind the empire having their property seized, say police.
Detective Chief Inspector Joseph Harrop, of GMP's Economic Crime Unit, said: "We've taken a big step forward in our investigation into what we believe to be a money laundering ring worth around £3million. This is money and assets that we think have been obtained through unscrupulous means and we are determined to ensure that anyone found to be responsible for this offence will be brought to justice and have anything of value in their name seized.
"Investigations like this are always complex and wide-ranging, but we have a commitment at GMP to working with our partners and using the powers available to us to seize assets of suspects and to really send a message that anyone engaged in this activity should expect a robust response from us. Our asset recovery results from the last 12 months demonstrate our desire to take back significant amounts of money and putting it back to where it belongs - in the community - and demonstrating that crime does not pay."
Anyone with information about suspicious financial activity can report it to GMP online, if able, or via 101. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
