Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been seized this week through criminal activity, some of which will go towards supporting not-for-profit projects in Oldham.

The Asset Detention and Recovery Unit, a part of Greater Manchester Police's Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, forfeited more than £300,000 at Tameside Magistrates Court on Tuesday, December 6.

The team accumulated the funds following a successful seizure of all cash and assets obtained through criminal activity, such as watches, precious metals and money made through drugs.

The latest stings saw the team recover £8,000 worth of cocaine and £29,828 in cash from an arrest in Salford in September this year.

In March, a warrant executed in Rochdale in connection with money laundering and the supply of class A drugs unearthed £26,060 found in cash at the address.

August also saw the team uncover thousands of pounds.

A shoe box of cash containing £58,650 was found in the car of a delivery driver in Rochdale while £55,140 was found, alongside steroids, class A drugs and human growth hormones, at an address in Wigan.

The Asset Detention and Recovery Unit revealed it has now forfeited more than £3 million this tax year.

The forfeited funds come as the Account Freezing Order team, which targets the illicit use of bank accounts by organised criminals, money launders and fraudsters, hit its £5 million milestone just last month.

Part of the funds recovered by the Economic Crime Unit will be returned to GMP to help pay to fund community projects, including the Fitton Hill Bulldogs community sport centre in Oldham and Oldham Mountain Rescue Team.

READ MORE: Oldham to benefit from thousands of forfeited criminal funds

Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop of the Economic and Cyber Crime Unit, who is the Force Lead for Asset Recovery, said: “This latest milestone demonstrates how, in line with our public promises, we will seize more assets from criminals.

"We continue to focus on forfeiting criminal assets to utilise their finances for a much better purpose.

“I would like to reassure the public that any information reported to us is dealt with in complete confidence and will be followed up meticulously.

"I would like to thank the public for their ongoing support in sharing information with our unit which helps us successfully disrupt criminal networks.”