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£275k forfeited in Worcestershire waste crime investigation

£275k forfeited in Worcestershire waste crime investigation
Image credit: West Mercia Police

More than £275,000 has been forfeited as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected illegal waste crime in Worcestershire.

West Mercia Police announced that a total of £275,532.58 has been forfeited so far under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) following a series of warrants executed in January.

The investigation, led by the force’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU), remains ongoing.

Two men were arrested during coordinated raids carried out across the West Mercia Police force area.

Officers searched a number of locations, including a farm in Peopleton, near Pershore, and an address in Drakes Broughton.

Officers seized six firearms and around £18,000 in cash at the Drakes Broughton address, and £60,000 in cash, a suspected stolen car and electrical goods suspected to be linked to money laundering in Peopleton.

The operation involved specialist economic crime officers supported by neighbourhood policing teams, Task Force rapid entry officers and specially trained digital detection dogs.

Searches were also carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Wychavon District Council and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS).

The two men who were arrested have since been released on bail and are continuing to assist police with their enquiries.

West Mercia Police said further suspects have also been interviewed as part of what it described as a “complex” investigation.

Detective Constable Steven Screen, of West Mercia Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “This investigation is still ongoing due to its complexity and the number of suspects involved.

“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.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said the regulator had “already taken action at several sites” in Worcestershire.

The spokesperson added: “These sites remain part of ongoing criminal investigations and where we find evidence of criminal activity, we will take robust enforcement action against those responsible.”

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