The largest ever haul of suspected stolen fuel in Manchester was seized by Oldham police along with £30,000 in cash yesterday.
Officer recovered up to 1,600 litres of petrol and diesel stored in 25 litre chemical containers stashed in the garage and garden shed at an address in Mark Lane, Shaw, along with £30,000 in cash stashed away in the house.
Firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service also attended and their initial assessment is that this is the largest amount of suspected stolen fuel being illegally stored within a residential or commercial property ever recovered.
Chief Superintendent Catherine Hankinson, divisional commander for Oldham, said the find was a landmark seizure.
She said: “This is an incredible find. The sheer volume of petrol and diesel being stored at this location is, we think, the largest amount ever recovered.
“We believe this fuel was stolen and was being illegally stored at and sold from the address, and the fact we have recovered £30,000 in cash shows what a lucrative criminal enterprise this is.
“This money has been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation so if it can be proved this cash was generated by criminality, it will be forfeited and ploughed back into the fight against crime.
Chief Superintendent Hankinson believes the fuel posed a serious threat to nearby residents.
She added: “Given the location of the property and the way it was being recklessly stored in chemical containers in a garden shed and garage, if there had been a fire then it is no exaggeration to say the entire area could have exploded and put people’s lives in serious jeopardy.
“What that demonstrates is that criminals have zero regard for other people’s lives, only their own pockets, but thanks to this intervention by the Oldham Divisional Organised Crime Unit we have not only smashed a criminal enterprise but undoubtedly saved lives.”
Officers from the Oldham Divisional Organised Crime Unit executed a warrant at the address yesterday under the umbrella of Operation Caminda which was set up to tackle organised crime in the area.
A 51-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and money laundering and remains in custody for questioning.
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