Current timestamp: 18/06/2025 03:45:15
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal Activity[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-location' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Leave this site

Cookies

We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.

You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.

Accept cookies Reject cookies Customise cookies

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.

Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

Close announcement bar

Alert Incident

Plane crash in Ahmedabad

The UK is working with local authorities in India to urgently establish the facts and provide support to those involved.

  • What to do if you have concerns about friends or family

Greater Manchester Police crest

  • Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Road traffic incident
    • Report antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Spiking
    • Stalking or harassment
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
    • Hate crime
  • Back to Tell us about

    • Tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
  • Back to Apply or register

    • Careers and volunteering
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Back to Request

    • Compensation for something the police have done
    • Your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
    • Request an update
  • Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Feedback about the website
    • Complaints
    • Say thanks
  • Your area
  1. ...
  2. News

Nearly £2million of ill-gotten gains won by GMP for community projects

Main article content

News
Published: 14:08 07/07/2021

Our Economic Crime Unit has been granted almost £2million of criminal's ill-gotten gains at a forfeiture hearing in Greater Manchester this week, half of which can be re-invested into policing and community projects across the region.

The massive sum was awarded yesterday (Tuesday 6 July) at Tameside Magistrates' Court after successful bids by the ECU's Asset Detention and Recovery Unit (ADRU).

Coming to a total of £1.89million, the money is made up of the value of criminals' assets and money that has been stripped by law-enforcement in Greater Manchester following civil 'proceeds of crime' investigations.

All forfeited funds are sent to the Home Office and half is returned to GMP to be re-invested in a range of policing and community projects as part of our wider approach at tackling serious and organised crime.

Our officers from the ECU were triumphant at all 17 forfeiture hearing slots that took place yesterday, relating to a range of investigations including drug conspiracies and money laundering.

The hearing involved the illicit gains from high-profile cases, such as that of multi-million pound fraudster Aram Sheibani from Trafford, who was sentenced to 37 years in jail last month after being found guilty of 20 offences.

A total of £1,052,451.14 in cash recovered from a number of addresses linked to him was forfeited yesterday as well as jewellery, art and high value items worth over £51,000.00.

Also considered as part of the hearing were a number of high value cash seizures, as well as nearly half a million in bank balances being frozen by specialist officers in the ADRU.

Two of the cash seizures relate to the recovery of £134,255 cash following the execution of a firearms warrant by our Serious and Organised Crime Group in Cheetham Hill in March, and the recovery of £40,830 following a traffic stop by officers in the Whitefield area in the same month.

The bank balance forfeiture relates to officers from the ADRU identifying that £473,000 of criminal funds had been deposited in a Manchester account.

Detectives believe this was from large-scale international money laundering ring involving cryptocurrency, likely linked to drug supply transactions.

Enquiries showed the account holder did not live at the address and the account is suspected of being set up fraudulently.

ECU CID 38
Detective Sergeant Sarah Langley from our Asset Detention and Recovery Unit

So far in 2021, the ECU has forfeited £2,783,296, some of which is to be reinvested into a range of projects, including a boxing club in Oldham for young people turning away from crime, and the 'GetAway'N'GetSafe' program in Manchester which delivers early intervention for young people at school to educate them of the dangers and consequences of drugs, exploitation, gangs and anti-social behaviour.

Proceeds of Crime hearings take place on a weekly basis and usually involve sums of a few thousand pounds, with some resulting in figures as high as £140,000, but it is a rare and emphatic result to be granted over £1million.

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Harrop, of GMP's Economic Crime Unit, said: "Yesterday's result was an astonishing achievement for the team and particularly the Asset Detention and Recovery Unit whose hard work and professionalism help yield such a staggering sum.

"Whether it's in the form of cash, drugs, or other assets, this is money that was in the hands of serious and organised criminals who made their worth through unscrupulous and illicit means and it is a fitting conclusion that this money can now be reinvested into tackling such crime in society.

"Some of the projects that we have embarked on help us to really work with communities and target the people that need such initiatives the most, and there is no doubt that this money will help make a substantial difference to all that we serve as we continue to tackle the prevalence and causes of organised crime in Greater Manchester."

Share

Footer navigation

Greater Manchester Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • News
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Feedback

Partners

  • Partner services
  • Police.uk
  • Ask the Police
  • The Mayor of Greater Manchester
  • Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Follow us on

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.