Met officers have seized an estimated £4 million in cash and a kilo of cocaine following a proactive policing operation in south London.

At around 18:30hrs on Wednesday, 29 July, officers on duty in Catford stopped a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle and the driver, a 54-year-old man, were searched. A shopping bag containing approximately £35,000 in cash was recovered.

The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing criminal property. He remains in police custody.

Further searches at an address linked to him led to the discovery of around £4 million in cash concealed in multiple bags in two bedrooms, along with 1kg of Class A drugs, namely cocaine.

Commander Paul Brogden, Specialist Crime, said: “This is one of the largest cash seizures we’ve seen and shows the impact that proactive local policing can have in tackling serious and organised crime.

“The arrest highlights the vital role stop and search, including stopping suspect vehicles, can play in helping officers to identify criminal activity.

“This result is testament to the persistence and dedication of the officers involved. We’ll continue to work relentlessly to disrupt and target those who seek to profit from illegal drugs and cause harm in our communities.”

There are clear links between the supply of illegal drugs and the serious violence that causes such fear and devastation in communities.

The Met has been laser focused on preventing and suppressing such violence at every level. In 2025, officers disrupted organised crime groups 21,231 times and removed 3,570 of guns and knives from London’s streets. The number of shootings in the capital is now less than half of what it was seven years ago.

This progress is being driven by targeting dangerous offenders more effectively, dismantling organised crime groups, preventing gang violence from escalating, and safeguarding children at risk of exploitation.