Scots gangsters targeted by new crime-busting police unit lose £620k in dirty money

pa data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/organised-crimeGangsters/a have lost more than #xA3;620,000 in dirty cash seized by an elite task force set up to smash organised crime in Scotland./p pThe money, used in laundering and a data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/drugs-1drug/a supply, has been confiscated by the Organised Crime Partnership (OCP Scotland) and by Border Force officers snaring crooks as they try to enter and leave the country./p pLast week, we revealed gangsters are using express parcel companies to a data-content-type=news data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/crime-gangs-using-express-parcel-21601171import/a deadly weapons destined for Scottish streets./p pOCP Scotland said the money is usually recovered during investigations and is held until any trials and proceeds of crime hearings can take place./p p/p pThe group, set up in December 2018, said a significant proportion of the cash was also seized by Border Force at international borders. Border Force then refer their intervention to the a data-content-type=section-topic data-link-tracking=InArticle|Link href=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/policeNational Crime Agency/a who undertake criminal justice investigations on their behalf./p pIan Thomas, NCA branch commander for Scotland, said: #x201C;The acquisition of criminal cash and other assets are the principle motivation for those involved in serious organised crime./p p#x201C;As well as prosecuting them for the offences they have committed, we must seize their criminal profits to disincentivise them and importantly to try to discourage the next generation of SOC (serious and organised crime) criminals.#x201D; /p pNCA regional head of investigations Gerry McLean said cash was the lifeblood of criminals and taking money off them prevented it being re-invested in further illegal activity./p pMurdo Macmillan, deputy director Border Force Scotland, said: #x201C;By making these detections, which were made from people both entering and leaving the UK, Border Force officers have helped take a substantial quantity of criminal cash out of circulation.#x201D;/p