Four arrested, over £60k in cash and £25k in assets seized, and almost £120k in cash forfeited following warrants across Greater Manchester

The warrants were conducted as part of a week of action by the Economic and Cyber Crime Section, which is part of the Serious Crime Division, to disrupt those involved in financial and Cyber Crime.

The Economic and Cyber Crime Section is made up of several units of Specialist Officers who deal with complex fraud, organised economic crime, money laundering and cyber crime.There are also specialist units who focus on recovering assets from criminals.

Officers from the Financial Investigation Teams and the Cyber Crime Unit took part in the execution of 8 warrants in Trafford, Gorton, Manchester and Droylsden over the past week (w/c Monday 11 October) where five people were arrested for a range of offences;

• An 18-year-old man was interviewed under caution for Fraud and Computer Misuse Act Offences and remains under investigation.
• A 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering, and has been released under investigation.
• A 35-year-old man was arrested under the Computer Misuse Act and on suspicion of Disclosing Private Sexual Images offences. He has been released under investigation.
• A 38-year-old man was interviewed under caution for Fraud and has been released under investigation.

Members of the Economic and Cyber Crime Section also assisted Serious and Organised Crime colleagues on Wednesday 13 October, when they executed a number of warrants across the force and sought a restraint for three vehicles and £30,000 worth of designer clothing.

Throughout the week, the Financial Investigation Team and the Cyber Crime Unit have assisted officers in other departments across the Force, and successfully detained at Court over £60,000 in cash, and approximately £25,000 worth of listed assets, including luxury watches.

Officers from the Asset Detention and Recovery Unit have had 11 successful Forfeiture hearings this week where nearly £40,000 in previously seized cash was forfeited.

Officers from the Account Freezing Order Team successfully also forfeited over £77,000 that they had frozen due to it being suspected it was criminal funds.
Both amounts will now go to the Home Office and half will be returned to GMP to be invested in fighting organised economic crime, and community projects.

Detective Chief Inspector Joe Harrop from the Economic and Cyber Crime Section said: "This is a fantastic result, with a significant amount of money recovered.

"Our team uses a variety of options available to us from the Proceeds of Crime Act, including cash seizure powers, listed asset powers (such as seizing high value jewelry, watches and artwork) and bank account freezing orders.

"We have been preparing for this week of action for the last month, and a substantial amount of work has gone in to ensuring its success. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved, including our colleagues in Serious and Organised Crime.

"Taking away money and assets from criminals does have a substantial impact on criminality, hitting them where it hurts. I hope this serves as a reminder that while tackling fraud and economic crime is a relentless task, we will continue to work to bring those involved in criminal behaviour to justice, and ensure that crime doesn't pay."