GMP granted largest-ever forfeit order for £1.8m worth of gold discovered in airport

GMP has been 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.

This was subsequently seized utilising powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, as officers believed the gold was part of suspected criminality.

Following a detailed and thorough investigation by officers in the Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, working in partnership with GMP's Legal Services department, further work was carried out and resulted in the case being heard today (19 February) at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

The court granted a forfeiture order in favour of GMP, totalling £1.81m for the value of the gold bars.

The outcome represents the highest-value listed assets forfeiture order ever awarded to GMP.

The GMP-conducted civil recovery investigation has now concluded.

As a result, 50% of the recovered value will now be directed into our Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) with the rest going to the Home Office.

Money seized and distributed via ARIS is being invested into communities across Greater Manchester. This includes charities, community groups and more.

You can read more about the scheme here: Charities and community groups can bid for a share of cash claimed back from criminals | Greater Manchester Police

Detective Inspector Sarah Langley, from our Economic Crime Unit, said: “This case reflects our unwavering commitment to tackling all forms of money laundering — whether it involves cash, gold, or any other high value assets used to hide criminal profits.

“Criminals continuously adapt their methods, and so must we. By targeting the movement of illicit wealth at every stage, we are dismantling the financial networks that allow organised crime to thrive.

“Our message is clear: whatever the form and wherever it is concealed, we will find it, we will seize it, and we will ensure that crime does not pay.”