West Mercia Police have revealed that £275,532.58 has been forfeited so far as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal waste activity in Worcestershire.
In January, West Mercia Police, led by specialist economic crime officers with support from neighbourhood policing teams, arrested two men as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected money laundering linked to illegal waste activity.
£97,000 in cash was seized as part of those arrests, but West Mercia Police have now confirmed over £275,000 has been forfeited as part of the investigation.
During the arrests, officers discovered a suspected stolen car, dozens of bags of potential counterfeit electrical items suspected to be linked to money laundering, and seized business material and digital devices to examine.
Two men were also arrested at an address in Drakes Broughton, near Pershore, on suspicion of firearms offences after officers found six firearms at the location, along with around £18,000 in cash.
Task Force rapid entry officers and specially trained digital detection dogs supported the operation to arrest the individuals at a farm in Peopleton in Pershore and the address in Drakes Broughton.
Searches were made by West Mercia Police at further addresses in partnership with the Environment Agency, DVSA, Wychavon District Council and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS).
The individuals have now been bailed, and West Mercia Police say they are assisting them with the ‘complex investigation’, and further suspects have also been interviewed.
Detective Constable Steven Screen from West Mercia’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) explained the investigation is still ongoing due to its complexity and the number of suspects involved.
“So far £275,532.58 has been forfeited by three of the businesses under investigation by our ECU using Proceeds of Crime Act legislation. This money has been passed to the Home Office,” DC Screen commented.
“More assets are still under review, and a money laundering investigation is still active. Additional crimes have also been identified since the warrants were executed in January and are being dealt with by colleagues in other police departments and our partner agencies.”
Commenting after the arrests in January, Marc Lidderth, West Midlands Area Director at the Environment Agency, called the operation a ‘great example’ of utilising different agencies’ enforcement powers to disrupt criminal activity.