£4m found stuffed in Lidl and Sainsbury's bags in south London in one of Met's 'largest ever cash seizures'

Police seized £4 million in cash and a kilo of cocaine found stuffed inside shopping bags in south London. Met officers stopped a suspicious vehicle in Catford on Wednesday as part of a “a proactive policing operation”.The vehicle and the driver, a 54-year-old man, were searched and a shopping bag containing approximately £35,000 in cash was recovered.The man was arrested on suspicion of possessing criminal property. 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 the cocaine.Police said it was one of the largest cash seizures ever in London.£4,000,000 in cash was found stuffed in Lidl and Sainsbury’s bags Met PoliceCommander 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.Read More"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.”The Met says there are clear links between the supply of illegal drugs and the serious violence that causes fear and devastation in communities.The force says it has been “laser focused” on preventing and suppressing such violence.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, the Met said.