UK Authorities Raid Turkish Barber Shops Over Money Laundering and Crime Links

UK law enforcement agencies have been conducting raids on Turkish barber shops amid concerns that criminal organizations are using them for money laundering, tax fraud, and the employment of illegal migrants.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has led numerous operations in recent weeks, seizing tens of thousands of pounds.

NCA officers, in collaboration with police, immigration enforcement, and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), are investigating barber shops suspected of laundering drug money or hiring undocumented workers. Tax inspectors have been monitoring barber chairs to assess their actual usage compared to the earnings reported by shop owners. One official told The Sunday Times that some streets contain multiple barber shops claiming significant profits despite being nearly empty.

In a statement, the NCA said: "Intelligence linking the use of barber shops, as well as other cash-intensive businesses, to money laundering and other criminality has risen in recent years.

"To respond to this threat, the NCA has co-ordinated multi-agency law enforcement action targeting barber shops where suspicious activity has been identified, and where there are possible connections to organised crime.

"This has involved a large number of police forces across England and Wales, as well as other partners, including HMRC and the Home Office’s immigration enforcement department."

Turkish Barber Money Laundering Concerns

Retail analytics firm Green Street reported that over 750 new barber shops opened in the UK last year, bringing the total to more than 18,000. Their numbers have increased by 15% since 2018. Many of these establishments operate as sole traders, meaning they are not required to register as businesses with Companies House.

Authorities have linked certain barber shops to organized crime. Former barber Hewa Rahimpur, an Iranian Kurd, operated a money laundering network tied to a people-smuggling operation that trafficked 10,000 migrants into the UK. This scheme initially operated out of a London barber shop. Rahimpur was eventually extradited and sentenced to 11 years in Belgium.

Afghan national Gul Wali Jabarkhel also used his North London barber shop to facilitate illegal migrant smuggling. After fleeing to Afghanistan, he was later arrested upon attempting to return to the UK, where he was convicted of money laundering.

Former Metropolitan Police officer Ali Hassan Ali noted a significant increase in barber shops since the pandemic. "Many have expensive equipment but no customers," he said in 2023. "Some are legitimate, but many, especially those owned by Albanians, Turks, and Kurds, have strong links to organized crime."

By fLEXI tEAM