Two suspects are in custody
13:36, 04 Nov 2025Updated 13:40, 04 Nov 2025
The gold bars seized from a car left at Manchester Airport.
Gold bullion was amongst a £2m haul seized from suspected money launderers travelling from Manchester Airport. Seven bars embossed with “Suisse 1 kilo” and worth £700,000 were recovered from a car left at the airport.
The ingots are the biggest gold seizure in the history of Greater Manchester Police. Two men have been arrested.
Police were tipped off after a vehicle was handed over to a drop-off concierge parking service at the airport. An employee felt there was something suspicious about the car and its occupants and called GMP.
The force was alerted at 11.40pm on Thursday last week and inside the vehicle, officers found the gold bars.
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The seven gold bars seized from a car left at Manchester Airport.
Following an initial investigation and further enquiries over the weekend, two suspects were identified and arrested last night (November 3) when they arrived back in the UK on an inbound flight from Dubai.
A search of their luggage revealed a further estimated £1m worth of gold and jewellery. Further searches of the suspects’ addresses in Bradford, West Yorkshire, revealed further gold bars worth around £60k, in addition to a £30k watch and sum of money.
The two men – aged 49 and 45 – were arrested on suspicion of money laundering. They remain in custody for questioning and enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Inspector Sarah Langley, from GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “Following initial enquiries, we have begun a money laundering investigation and have been working through all information available to us as part of this work.
“Any discovery of this size is of course something we want to explore all reasons for, and our specialist officers are currently determining the reasons for the gold and jewellery being brought into the country.
The items seized at Manchester Airport by police investgating money laundering
“Any offences regarding money or the illegal dealing and possession of goods is something we will simply never tolerate, and we will always act to ensure people are acting within the confines of the law.
“If this is something that you may have knowledge of, please do get in touch with us, as your information could greatly assist with our work.”
You can contact GMP via our website on gmp.police.uk, or via Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.