Economic crime team recovers record £18m from criminals

Our Economic Crime Team has recovered a record £18,150.322.56 from criminals in the past year – cash that will be reinvested back into our communities. 

Part of the money recovered by the Economic and Cyber Crime Unit will be used to support local communities through the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) across Greater Manchester. 

Throughout the past year, we have conducted more than 850 Proceeds of Crime (POCA) hearings. 

We have recovered millions from convicted drug dealers, fraudsters, crime gangs and money launderers, as well as recovering a significant amount of gold. 

Detective Superintendent Andrew Buckthorpe, who leads GMP’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, said: “In the last financial year we recovered our highest-ever amount of criminal proceeds, which is a testament to the hard work that goes in across the force. 

“This action shows the hard work from officers and staff in the unit and across the force is making a real difference as we are committed to ensuring these funds are reinvested back into the communities we serve. 

“Protecting the people of Greater Manchester remains our highest priority, and this is one of the ways we can give something back. 

“Thanks to the hard work and determination of our officers, we are in a strong position to continue stripping offenders of the finances that so often fuel further criminality. 

“It is vital that those who profit from crime are deprived of their illegal earnings and are not allowed to enjoy that money at the expense of others. 

“It is even more rewarding to know that the funds we seize are now being used for positive purposes across Greater Manchester.” 

Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson, lead for crime, said: “The work of our Economic and Cyber Crime Unit in the last twelve months to recover over £18 million in criminal assets has been nothing short of outstanding.

“This record figure reflects the hard work and dedication of our officers and staff to investigate, solve crime and bring offenders to justice.

“As we move into a new financial year, we will continue to maintain an ambitious and innovative approach while adapting and developing with partners to target criminal assets and embrace technology to remain a step ahead of changing criminal activity.

“Through using the ARIS process, this criminal money can be reinvested back into local communities for the benefit of the public we serve.

"This work reflects GMP’s continued drive to deliver an outstanding service to our Greater Manchester communities while building public trust and confidence in the service we deliver."

There have been a number of successful Proceeds of Crime (POCA) hearings in the past year, with the money recovered going to our ARIS or back to victims: 

• In February, GMP was granted its largest-ever forfeiture order for gold bars - valued at £1.8m - that were seized at Manchester Airport last year. In May 2025, officers working at the airport stopped a man found to be carrying five gold bars weighing more than 15kg in his hand luggage as he prepared to fly abroad. 

• We recovered just over £135,000 from a suspect after his car was stopped on the M62 in November 2025 when around £100,000 in cash was found. Criminal proceedings are ongoing. 

• Another £138,144 was recovered from Muhammad Hussain (DOB 24/05/1993) of NFA, after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs – he was jailed for 8 years and 6 months in March. 

• Pamela Gwinnett (24/10/1962) was sentenced in her absence at Preston Crown Court to serve six years in prison for fraud offences in January 2026. At the Proceeds of Crime, she was made subject of a confiscation order to the total of £350,180, which will be paid as compensation to the victim. 

• In 2019, Karl Zierold abused his position as lasting power of attorney by defrauding his elderly mother of over £250,000. He was convicted in September 2025 and is the subject of a confiscation order to be paid back to his victim. 

Det Supt Buckthorpe added: “This demonstrates the power and effectiveness in utilising POCA confiscation legislation to not only remove assets from the hands of criminality but to compensate victims for their losses. 

“When the money is recouped for ARIS, we keep 50% of any cash we recover to spend on community initiatives, and the other half goes back to the Home Office. A proportion of assets seized and crypto-currency is also paid into the ARIS fund. 

“The money that we get back is either used on community initiatives or within the force to further asset recovery work, or on policing operations that will be beneficial to keeping the local community safe from crime. 

"We will continue to pursue the criminals of Greater Manchester and deprive them of their ill-gotten gains."