Hundreds of barbershops targeted in raids across the UK
Why barbershops are often used as fronts for money laundering
- Hundreds of barbershops have been targeted in Operation Machinize, a nationwide crackdown on money laundering and modern slavery across England and Wales
- Coordinated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and involving police and law enforcement officers, the operation led to 35 arrests and the safeguarding of 97 potential modern slavery victims.
- Authorities seized more than £40,000 in cash, 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, and 8,000 illegal vapes and discovered two cannabis farms. Freezing orders were also placed on bank accounts exceeding £1 million.
- The NCA aims to disrupt criminal gangs who use cash-intensive businesses, like barbershops, nail salons and vape stores, to launder money from crimes.
- Security Minister Dan Jarvis affirmed the government's commitment to combating high street crime and making the UK an even more hostile environment for organised crime.