Police raid barbers and vape shops suspected of being fronts for crime gangs - its every part of UK

12th April 2025

The UK government has been cracking down on illegal shops and businesses employing illegal immigrants. Recent efforts include raids on cash-heavy businesses like barber shops, nail bars, car washes, and vape shops suspected of illegal activities.

Police officers smash through the back doors of a bright, modern barber shop in the market town of Shrewsbury.

Inside they immediately detain two men - who we are later told are Kurdish asylum seekers. Both men are later released.

It is the first of six raids that day where police seize thousands of pounds in cash and illicit vapes.

The officers are here with a warrant to search the premises because of suspected money laundering. They say their intelligence also suggests the shop is linked to sale of illicit cigarettes and vapes, illegal immigration and drug-dealing.

Det Insp Daniel Fenn, on his ninth raid of the week, says some barber shops such as this are claiming income of £100,000 to £150,000 a month. "They aren't getting that amount of customers to warrant that amount of money."

Read the full article HERE

National Crime Agency
Operation Machinize Hundreds of barber shops targeted in NCA-coordinated crackdown

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