Met’s £47m ‘dirty cash’ swoop as Covid cripples gangs’ money-laundering
Police seize millions from violent criminals, who have been forced to stockpile cash when pandemic led businesses to close
19 May 2021 • 7:07pm
The Metropolitan Police seized more than £47 million of “dirty money” during the coronavirus pandemic after organised crime gangs were forced to stockpile cash when their businesses were closed.
In 2020-21, the force seized £47.2 million in cash from violent crime gangs, up from £18.4 million the previous year.
The 157 per cent increase was largely due to the pandemic, the force said, as lockdown prevented gangs from using their normal means of laundering money through cash-only cafes, bars, restaurants and nail bars, which were all forced to close.