News
Newcastle raids as Payback 4 launches
Dated: 20 Apr 2010
People who live lavish lifestyles funded by crime are being warned it’s Payback time as Northumbria Police launched its fourth major crackdown to strip criminals of their ill-gotten gains.
Payback 4: The Big Squeeze, builds on the good work of previous operations during which millions of pounds worth of assets have been seized.
Organised crime enterprises use money laundering to obtain ‘badges of wealth’, including properties, luxury cars and goods all subsidised by their criminality.
They finance their lifestyles and holidays using the proceeds of crime and give the wrong impression to communities that crime is worth the risk.
The Big Squeeze is targeting criminals who wear those badges of wealth - both low level offenders and those who profit from serious, organised crime.
Raids were carried out in Newcastle on Tuesday April 20 as the campaign got underway - with five properties raided and two arrests, as well as cars, cash and documents being seized.
Homes in Townfield Gardens, Throckley, Benton Park Road, Benton, and Ladybank, at Chapel Park - as well as two associated business premises in Newcastle and Gateshead - were targeted during the raids.
Two men aged 43 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of money laundering, while cars, cash, cigarettes, motorbikes and documentation were seized.
Detective Chief Inspector George Duff, Newcastle Area Command, said: "Today we've made arrests and seized property in raids which are aimed at targeting organised crime in Newcastle.
"It sends out a clear message to those who think they can get away with living their lives funded by their criminal activity while their neighbours continue to work hard to make ends meet that we will take action.
"We know who these people are. We will root them out and prove that crime does not pay.
"We are determined to tackle those people who bring misery to others and cause the most disruption in our neighbourhoods through high-level crime and drug dealing.
"We need the public's help to take action against these people and I'd urge anyone who has information about people who are profiting from crime to contact us so we can investigate."