Two men, aged 51 and 39, have been arrested after police seized a large amount of cash and Pokémon cards worth thousands of pounds during raids in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
The arrests followed searches on Tuesday in Wigan, Bolton and Preston. Both men were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs and possession of criminal property.
They were also held on suspicion of supplying, or offering to supply, articles for use in the preparation or administration of controlled drugs.
Drugs warrant and cash discovery
Greater Manchester Police said that following 'intelligence received', a drugs warrant was executed at a retail premises on Standishgate, Wigan. Specialist cash, drugs and firearms detection dog Bruce, with handler PC James Lightfoot, searched the premises.
Bruce found cash concealed underneath a till, and a further £35,000 in 'bundled cash' was discovered hidden in a concealed void beneath the floor, police added.
Further searches and seizures
Further searches were carried out at addresses in Bolton and Preston, resulting in the seizure of an additional £11,000 in cash and a large collection of Pokémon cards believed to be worth several thousand pounds.
A GMP spokesman said both men were subsequently bailed pending further investigation.
Police comment
Sergeant Jonathan Calder said: "Businesses involved in criminality have a detrimental impact on community safety and damage the reputation of Wigan town centre. We will always act upon information provided by the public and our partners to tackle those who seek to profit from criminal activity."
He added: "Our priority is to protect vulnerable members of our community, disrupt organised criminality, and seize assets and cash believed to have been obtained through unlawful means. There is no place for this type of criminality in Wigan or Greater Manchester."
