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Police reinvest record £18m seized from criminals back into Greater Manchester’s communities

This is a record figure for the police service.

Emily Sergeant - 2nd April 2026

A record £18 million seized from criminals within the past year has now been reinvested back into Greater Manchester’s communities.

Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) confirmed that its dedicated Economic Crime Team recovered a whopping £18,150,322.56, to be precise, from criminals in the past year alone, and it’s cash that will be now be reinvested as part of the successful Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) back into communities across Greater Manchester.

This is a record figure for the police service.

Throughout the past year, GMP says it has conducted more than 850 Proceeds of Crime (POCA) hearings.

As a result of these hearings, police have recovered millions from convicted drug dealers, fraudsters, crime gangs, and money launderers, as well as recovering a ‘significant’ amount of gold.

GMP synagogue attack — Police have reinvested record £18m seized from criminals back into Greater Manchester’s communities / Credit: GMP

You may remember that, back in May last year, officers working at Manchester 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.

Following this seizure, GMP was then granted in February its largest-ever forfeiture order for gold bars – valued at £1.8m.

Some of the other seizures and forfeitures over the past year include just over £135,000 from a suspect after his car was stopped on the M62 in November 2025, and another £138,144 was recovered from a man after he pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

GMP was granted its largest-ever forfeiture order for gold bars – valued at £1.8m / Credit: GMP

“The work of our Economic and Cyber Crime Unit in the last 12 months to recover over £18 million in criminal assets has been nothing short of outstanding,” commented Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson, who is GMP’s lead for crime.

“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.”

Featured Image – GMP