GMP seizes over £1 million in cash during national intensification week

Greater Manchester Police seized over £1 million in suspected criminal cash during a week of action tackling organised immigration crime and criminality on local high streets. Operation Lockstream week of action is a national partnership initiative led by the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce (OICDT) at the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) to tackle organised immigration crime within the service sector in local communities.

The intensification week ran from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 June 2026, with GMP having the highest number of districts taking part across all participating forces in the country. On Monday 15 June, the City of Manchester (CoM) Central and South District Intelligence Unit (DIU), alongside neighbourhood officers and partnership agencies, carried out a number of visits in the area to tackle criminality on the local high street.

During the first visit to a car wash, eight men fled upon sight of the team approaching. After a short chase, four men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences, including overstaying visas and working illegally.

Another visit to a 'ghost kitchen' in Ardwick saw a premises referred to food hygiene and a man was reported to Immigration Enforcement on suspicion of working illegally. Meanwhile, over in Rochdale the P1 Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) carried out a joint visit, alongside Trading Standards, targeting businesses suspected of selling illicit and unsafe goods.

As a result of the inspection, a significant quantity of illicit items were seized including 648 packs of cigarettes, hand-rolled tobacco, 73 shisha products, and 36 unsafe toys, as well as 77 food safety breaches identified. In total, the value of the goods seized is estimated to be around £13,000.

Over Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 June, a forcewide traffic operation took place. This was a joint operation working with Wolverhampton, Sefton and Bolton Licensing looking at fast food delivery platforms and out of area taxi licensing.

Officers made two arrests; one on suspicion of immigration offences, and one on suspicion of driving a vehicle while being under the influence of a controlled drug. Other results from the two days include: On Thursday 18 June 2026 officers from Rochdale Challenger and our Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) executed a warrant at an address suspected of being concerned in the supply of class A, B and C drugs, money laundering and being a member of an Organised Crime Group (OCG).

Five warrants and two searches were carried out at properties across Greater Manchester and in the North West region. A result of searches, 12 people - eight men and four women - were arrested on suspicion of a range of drug-related offences and money laundering.

Around £1 million in cash was seized from a residential address on Falkland Avenue, Rochdale. Searches also resulted in the seizure and class B and C drugs, illicit tobacco, approximately £50,000 in suspected criminal assets, and an additional £50,000 in cash.

Officers in Tameside were joined by TMBC Trading Standards and Environmental Health where they visited a total of six business premises. The visits were made to a range of retail premises and car washes across the district where health and safety issues were identified at three of the locations and two individuals were arrested and bailed by Immigration Enforcement officers in relation to a breach of visa conditions.

Trading Standards officers seized unsafe toys, seven disposable vapes, and packs of illicit tobacco. Investigations are ongoing with Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers, and enforcement action will be taken for all failings and non-compliance issues.

Throughout the week GMP also seized a variety of counterfeit medication, and almost £1million worth of civil penalty referral notices were made to businesses. Partnership working is a vital aspect of tackling the complexities that come with organised criminality on local high streets.

Multiagency visits and warrants were carried out across districts in Greater Manchester which included local councils, Trading Standards, Immigration Enforcement, and Licensing. Chief Inspector Abi Cronin from GMP's OCCU, and lead for Operation Lockstream, said: "I am really pleased with the results we have seen come to fruition from this national week of action.

" Organised Immigration Crime is complex and demands a joined-up response. It can often involve exploited vulnerable individuals who need to be safeguarded.

"Although this intensification week has come to an end, our work in this area never stops and we continue to root out organised immigration crime and other criminality on our local high streets. “Our officers rely on information from the public and take all information we receive seriously and act on it accordingly.

“We encourage anyone with concerns about illegal immigration or exploitation to report it to police via 101 or our Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk “Always dial 999 in an emergency. Reports can be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Any concerns about individuals who may be victims of exploitation or Modern Slavery can be reported online at Modern Slavery Helpline or by ringing the Modern Slavery and Exploitation helpline on 08000 121 700." Share