Police at one of the UK’s major airports were stunned when they unearthed gold bullion bars and jewellery worth more than £1.7m. The money laundering haul found in a suspect car at Manchester Airport late on Thursday last week is believed to be the biggest seizure of gold in the north-west force’s Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP’s) history.
GMP discovered the first seven gold bars worth £700,000 in the car, but when two suspects were arrested on landing in the UK on Monday evening, a search of their luggage revealed a further estimated £1m in gold and jewellery. Later searches of the suspects’ addresses in Bradford, West Yorkshire, revealed more gold bars valued at about £60,000 in addition to a £30,000 watch and a sum of money.
The two men, who are 45 and 49, have now been questioned on suspicion of money laundering and they remain in custody.
Officers were made aware of a suspicious vehicle at Manchester Airport at around 11.40pm on on October 30. Officers attended and within the vehicle, when the seven gold bars were discovered. Following an initial investigation and enquiries over the weekend, two suspects were identified and arrested on November 3 when they arrived on the inbound flight before the rest of the haul was discovered at their home addresses.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing for anyone with information to contact them.
Det Insp Sarah Langley, from GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “Following initial enquiries, we have begun a money laundering investigation and have been working through all information available to us as part of this work.
“Any discovery of this size is of course something we want to explore all reasons for, and our specialist officers are currently determining the reasons for the gold and jewellery being brought into the country.
“Any offences regarding money or the illegal dealing and possession of goods is something we will simply never tolerate, and we will always act to ensure people are acting within the confines of the law.”
She added: “If this is something that you may have knowledge of, please do get in touch with us, as your information could greatly assist with our work.”
