London (Agencies): UK police have conducted a series of raids targeting barber shops suspected of being used as fronts for criminal activities, including money laundering and people smuggling. The businesses, often advertised as “Turkish” barber shops, are reportedly run by individuals of Kurdish or Albanian origin and linked to organized crime networks.
Authorities revealed that the high cash turnover of these establishments makes them ideal for concealing illicit funds. West Mercia Police, covering Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire, led the operation, carrying out 33 raids and seizing over £500,000 ($657,500) in illegal cash. Four arrests were made, with immigration officers detaining an additional four individuals.
Detective Inspector Dan Fenn of West Mercia’s Economic Crime Unit stated, “Whilst these businesses appear legitimate, they were actually tools for criminals to hide illegal cash flow.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA), along with HMRC tax inspectors and immigration enforcement officers, supported the nationwide crackdown. A representative from the NCA emphasized their commitment to disrupting the flow of illicit cash and preventing organized criminals from profiting from their activities.
The raids also exposed links to high-profile people smugglers. Amanj Hasan Zada, an Iraqi-Kurdish smuggler, used a barber shop in Preston as a cover for coordinating small boat crossings. Zada was sentenced to 17 years in prison last year. Similarly, Hewa Rahimpur operated a barber shop in East London as a front for smuggling 10,000 migrants across the English Channel, earning up to £260,000 per trip. Rahimpur received an 11-year prison sentence in Belgium in 2023.
The investigation highlights the rapid growth of barber shops in the UK, with over 750 new establishments opening in 2024 alone, contributing to a 50% increase since 2018. While many operate legitimately, authorities are intensifying efforts to identify and dismantle those linked to criminal enterprises.