Greater Manchester Police carried out the raids on the night of September 21, targeting locations in Deansgate and other parts of the city center. Officers seized cash believed to be linked to money laundering, along with mobile phones, gambling tables, records, and account books. Additionally, the cash was confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Two of the men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offenses, a third on suspicion of money laundering and breaching the Gambling Act by providing unlicensed gambling facilities, and a fourth on suspicion of licensing offenses connected to running an unlicensed late-night takeaway, as all four remain in custody. The operation was carried out jointly by Greater Manchester Police, the Gambling Commission, and Manchester City Council’s licensing team, building on intelligence gathered during an earlier raid in May 2026 that led to two other arrests, with those suspects due in court next week.
Sue Young, Executive Director of Operations at the Gambling Commission, commented:
“Unlicensed operators often have links to wider criminal activity, exploit vulnerable people and undermine legitimate regulated businesses. And that is why we are always keen to work in partnership with the police to crack down on illegal operations.”
The case adds to multiple other similar enforcement actions in the UK during 2026, including a raid in Birmingham and a cash and gold seizure in South Yorkshire in August.
