Money-laundering raids see arrests and £50k seized

Police carried out early morning raids across a number of properties

A crackdown on money-laundering has seen nine men arrested and the seizure of £50,000 in cash along with jewellery and watches.

Early morning raids at properties across Manchester were carried out by Greater Manchester's Economic Crime Unit and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on Thursday.

Warrants were issued for 12 properties across Manchester, which resulted in the seizure of jewellery, watches and vehicles estimated to be worth in excess of £180,000 along with the £50,000 in cash.

Nine men between the ages of 36 and 63 were arrested on suspicion of money laundering, fraud and organised immigration crime offences.

Officers said the arrests came following an investigation into individuals suspected of being involved in high-level money laundering offences spanning at least three years.

A number of watches and jewellery were also seized

GMP said the group were suspected to have profited from organised immigration crime in Manchester by producing fake identities and businesses in an attempt to money launder their criminal profits.

Det Sup Andy Buckthorpe said: “We remain robust in our approach to tackling money laundering, and the action is part of a longstanding approach to ensuring that we are tackling economic crime head on using all resources available to us".

He said the arrests would “definitely cause disruption among criminal networks within Greater Manchester".

“We are asking the public to remain vigilant and if you see, or suspect something is wrong, tell us, and we can do something about it," he added.