£250,000 seized in drive to make criminals pay

Cash, cars and other assets have been seized by police around the county during a week of action which also saw 69 people arrested for crimes including money laundering, theft, fraud and drugs offences.

Police also seized £75,425 in cash, 13 vehicles totalling £187,000, and £15,000 worth of jewellery.

In Knottingley, a tanker, which had been stolen from a property in Wakefield in July last year, was recovered and returned to its owner.

Four men were arrested when officers recovered stolen electricity cable and scrap metal from a business premises in Castleford.

In Leeds, a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering after two addresses in the Shadwell area of Leeds were searched. He has since been bailed pending further inquiries.

A large consignment of fireworks, which were allegedly being sold to children nearby, was also seized in the city and six people were arrested for drugs offences after a small cannabis farm was discovered.

In Calderdale, a man, aged 34, and a 33-year-old woman were arrested and bailed in Halifax on suspicion of money laundering after financial inquiries revealed they had unexplained wealth and assets totalling over £360,000.

Twenty four arrests have been made for money laundering, mortgage fraud and Class A and B drugs offences in the Bradford district. Approximately £43,000 in cash has been seized in total.

In Dewsbury, West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Team arrested and bailed a man, aged 50, for drugs offences after a cannabis farm with a street value of approximately £30,000 was found.

The week of action, which ran from October 10-14, aimed to raise awareness of the powers available under the Proceeds of Crime Act to target those living lavish lifestyles with no legitimate means of income.

Temporary Det Chief Insp Fran Naughton, of the force’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “A lot of people are currently facing tough financial challenges and these criminals are compounding the problem. It is our job to ensure that justice is served to those who are living off the proceeds of crime and that monies seized are put back into the communities to help tackle other issues that affect our neighbourhoods.”