Police seize drugs and assets during high street raids

ACCOUNTS FROZEN IN CRACKDOWN ON MONEY LAUNDERING

- By SEBASTIAN MCCORMICK

POLICE officers have been seen bashing down doors across West Yorkshire in a series of raids on high streets.

West Yorkshire Police say they took part in Operation Machinize 2 throughout October, executing search warrants at addresses across the county as part of a clampdown on high street businesses suspected of laundering criminal money. This included raids on vape shops, beauty parlours, corner shops, estate agents, cafes, sweet shops, and professionals suspected of aiding money laundering.

In total, the police seized £2.7million in suspected criminal assets, including luxury jewellery and watches.

They also issued restraint orders to freeze £4million in property and bank accounts, and used specialist powers to freeze nine business bank accounts, locking down £360,000, with £270,000 earmarked for forfeiture.

The police also seized £173,000 worth of controlled drugs, and 10 companies were struck off at Companies House. The police worked alongside West Yorkshire Trading Standards, who seized counterfeit cigarettes and illegal vapes.