Current timestamp: 16/07/2025 05:35:47
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

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

Operation Falcon continues to ruffle criminals’ feathers as over £2 million seized since launched

Main article content

News
Published: 14:51 11/11/2024

Operation Falcon was launched in May 2022, it is a collaborative effort involving officers from across a number of different specialist teams ranging from our Economic Crime Unit, Serious and Organised Crime Group, Specialist Operations and intelligence officers who all work towards removing funds from criminal networks. 

Since the creation of the operation, officers have clawed back criminal money which has then been used to fund community initiatives and policing operations that tackle, reduce and prevent crime - ultimately keeping the public safe. 

OP Falcon bag may 2022.jpg

Money located in carrier bag as part of Operation Falcon

Money laundering is the process of turning criminal proceeds into legitimate funds through businesses, bank accounts and even moving the money abroad and it costs the UK economy billions of pounds a year.

Operation Falcon was created to stop cash-based money laundering, in particular the transport of large sums of criminal cash on our roads. The teams involved track and intercept unregistered cash on the move. 

op falcon money bag.jpg

Money seized as part of Operation Falcon 

Over £2 million has been seized since the creation of Operation Falcon in 2022 which has come from a range of policing activity from proactive operations on our roads to warrants executed at known criminal addresses.

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop head of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime and Lead for Operation Falcon, said “If we stop the right criminals in the right cars, there is a high likelihood that they will be transporting cash.

“The operation has been successful because we use officers and police staff with different skillsets. We have officers that can develop intelligence and then our specialist driving capabilities in our Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit who are utilised to stop criminals in their tracks. The cases are then sent to experts in our Asset Detention and Recovery Unit to then prove the money has been acquired by illicit means, and then we can ultimately recover that cash in the courts.

“Money laundering is a factor in every single crime type, and it is a means to generate an income to further their criminality. It is important to recognise that those criminals that are operating at this level and moving large sums of cash are the criminals who are blighting our communities the most, and removing their funds means we are ultimately making Greater Manchester a safer place to live work and visit. 

“We will continue this momentum by continuing to tackle criminal finance, and if you’re operating in Greater Manchester and you’re generating money from crime - we will come and get it off you and then reinvest it back into our community.”

Read more about the organisations in Greater Manchester that have benefitted from recovered criminal cash:  The journey of money from the pockets of criminals' to the hands of Greater Manchester’s communities | Greater Manchester Police

Anyone with information about suspicious financial activity can report it to us online through our online crime reporting form, or by calling 101. You can also report via our Live Chat service on our website: www.gmp.police.uk

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

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.