Detectives in Purfleet uncovered a significant cache of criminal assets during a major police raid. The operation resulted in the seizure of stolen haulage containers, off-road vehicles, and £50,000 in cash.
One of the stolen containers was dumped on the yard just before 3:30am on the day of the raid. Police quickly returned the container and its contents to the rightful owner.
During the raid, £15,000 was seized from warrants executed at the haulage yard and two homes in Havering. Police dogs also detected an additional £50,000 hidden inside a vehicle, which has now been seized as criminal proceeds. Three stolen off-road vehicles were recovered from inside another container.
The operation took place on 18 May and was led by the Metropolitan Police’s East Area Drug Focus Desk, with support from British Transport Police and Essex Police. The Purfleet site was linked to an organised crime gang.
A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of carrying a Section 5 firearm but was later released under investigation. Additionally, a 46-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman were arrested in Havering on firearms and drug charges; both have been bailed with court dates scheduled for late June. A 32-year-old man was also arrested on allegations of drug supply and released pending further inquiries.
Detective Sergeant Owen Morgan said, “The evidence and intel we seized is just a snapshot of the criminality out there. We’ll keep hunting down these networks to protect our communities.”
Authorities encourage anyone with information about drug dealing or criminal activity in their area to come forward. You can report anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visiting fearless.org.
Originally published by UKNIP.
