Latest news with #NationalEconomicCrimeCentre
The Independent
11-04-2025
- The Independent
Hundreds of barbershops targeted by police operation against money laundering
Hundreds of barbershops have been targeted by police in a three-week crackdown on money laundering and modern slavery, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. The NCA-co-ordinated operation saw police and other law enforcement officers visit 265 cash-intensive premises across England, including nail salons and vape shops, with 10 shops shut down and further closures expected. Operation Machinize targeted the venues in an effort to tackle 'high street crime' and prevent criminal gangs from using cash-intensive businesses to conceal the proceeds of crime, according to the NCA. The law enforcement agency said the crackdown resulted in 35 arrests, and 97 individuals suspected to be victims of modern slavery were placed under police protection. The NCA declined to say whether any of those arrested had been charged with an offence. 'We know cash-intensive businesses are used as fronts for money laundering, facilitating some of the highest harm and highest impact offending in the UK,' said Rachael Herbert, deputy director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA. 'We have seen links to drug trafficking and distribution, organised immigration crime, modern slavery and human trafficking, firearms, and the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes. 'Operation Machinize targeted barbershops and other high street businesses being used as cover for a whole range of criminality, all across the country.' During the course of the operation, which involved 19 different police forces and regional organised crime units, officers secured freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1 million. They also seized more than £40,000 in cash, some 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, and more than 8,000 illegal vapes, the NCA said. Officers also found two cannabis farms containing a total of 150 plants. The NCA estimates that £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year. The agency said in a statement: 'Cash-intensive businesses such as barbershops, vape shops, nail bars, American-themed sweet shops and car washes are often used by criminals to conceal the origins of illicit cash. 'Crime gangs use them to enter cash into the financial system, mixing legitimate funds with criminal profits to hinder subsequent law enforcement investigations. 'They are known to buy such businesses using the proceeds of crime, which provides them with a legitimate income and opportunities for money laundering.' Security minister Dan Jarvis said: 'High street crime undermines our security, our borders, and the confidence of our communities, and I am determined to take the decisive action necessary to bring those responsible to justice. 'This successful NCA-led operation highlights the scale and complexity of the criminality our towns and cities face and demonstrates our collective determination to make our streets safer, a key pillar of this Government's plan for change. 'We will continue to support the NCA, and other law enforcement partners, as we make the UK an even more hostile environment for organised crime.'
Telegraph
11-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Hundreds of barbers raided across England
Hundreds of barbershops have been targeted by police in a three-week crackdown on money laundering and modern slavery. Dozens of people were arrested and more than £1 million was frozen as police raided 265 high street cash-intensive businesses. Businesses included nail salons and vape shops, with 10 shops shut down and further closures expected, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. Operation Machinize targeted the shops in an effort to tackle 'high street crime' and prevent criminal gangs from using cash-intensive businesses to conceal the proceeds of crime, according to the NCA. The law enforcement agency said the raids, which involved 19 different police forces and regional organised crime units, resulted in 35 arrests and 97 individuals suspected to be victims of modern slavery were placed under police protection. Officers secured freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1 million and seized more than £40,000 in cash, some 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco and more than 8,000 illegal vapes. Two cannabis farms containing a total of 150 plants were also uncovered. The NCA estimates that £12 billion of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year. Rachael Herbert, the deputy director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said: 'We know cash-intensive businesses are used as fronts for money laundering, facilitating some of the highest harm and highest impact offending in the UK. 'We have seen links to drug trafficking and distribution, organised immigration crime, modern slavery and human trafficking, firearms, and the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes. 'Operation Machinize targeted barbershops and other high street businesses being used as cover for a whole range of criminality, all across the country.' The agency said in a statement: 'Cash-intensive businesses such as barbershops, vape shops, nail bars, American-themed sweet shops and car washes are often used by criminals to conceal the origins of illicit cash. 'Crime gangs use them to enter cash into the financial system, mixing legitimate funds with criminal profits to hinder subsequent law enforcement investigations. 'They are known to buy such businesses using the proceeds of crime, which provides them with a legitimate income and opportunities for money laundering.' Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said: 'High street crime undermines our security, our borders, and the confidence of our communities, and I am determined to take the decisive action necessary to bring those responsible to justice. 'This successful NCA-led operation highlights the scale and complexity of the criminality our towns and cities face and demonstrates our collective determination to make our streets safer, a key pillar of this Government's plan for change. 'We will continue to support the NCA, and other law enforcement partners, as we make the UK an even more hostile environment for organised crime.'
Sky News
11-04-2025
- Sky News
Hundreds of barbers, car washes and American sweet shops raided in money laundering crackdown
Hundreds of barber shops and other cash-heavy businesses have been targeted in a three-week money laundering blitz. Police went to 265 premises, including vape shops, nail bars, American-themed sweet shops and car washes across England in a crackdown on high street crime. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said 35 arrests were made, 97 people suspected to be victims of modern slavery were placed under police protection, and bank accounts containing more than £1m were frozen. More than £40,000 in cash, some 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, and more than 8,000 illegal vapes were also seized during Operation Machinize, which involved 19 different police forces and regional organised crime units. Officers also found two cannabis farms containing a total of 150 plants, while 10 shops have been shut down. The NCA estimates that £12bn of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year with businesses such as barber shops, vape shops, nail bars, American-themed sweet shops and car washes often used by criminals. Rachael Herbert, deputy director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said: "Operation Machinize targeted barber shops and other high street businesses being used as cover for a whole range of criminality, all across the country. "We have seen links to drug trafficking and distribution, organised immigration crime, modern slavery and human trafficking, firearms, and the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes. "We know cash-intensive businesses are used as fronts for money laundering, facilitating some of the highest harm and highest impact offending in the UK." Security minister Dan Jarvis said the operation "highlights the scale and complexity of the criminality our towns and cities face".
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Hundreds of barbers, car washes and American sweet shops raided in money laundering crackdown
Hundreds of barber shops and other cash-heavy businesses have been targeted in a three-week money laundering blitz. Police went to 265 premises, including vape shops, nail bars, American-themed sweet shops and car washes across England in a crackdown on high street crime. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said 35 arrests were made, 97 people suspected to be victims of modern slavery were placed under police protection, and bank accounts containing more than £1m were frozen. More than £40,000 in cash, some 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, and more than 8,000 illegal vapes were also seized during Operation Machinize, which involved 19 different police forces and regional organised crime units. Officers also found two cannabis farms containing a total of 150 plants, while 10 shops have been shut down. The NCA estimates that £12bn of criminal cash is generated in the UK each year with businesses such as barber shops, vape shops, nail bars, American-themed sweet shops and car washes often used by criminals. Rachael Herbert, deputy director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said: "Operation Machinize targeted barber shops and other high street businesses being used as cover for a whole range of criminality, all across the country. "We have seen links to drug trafficking and distribution, organised immigration crime, modern slavery and human trafficking, firearms, and the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes. "We know cash-intensive businesses are used as fronts for money laundering, facilitating some of the highest harm and highest impact offending in the UK." Security minister Dan Jarvis said the operation "highlights the scale and complexity of the criminality our towns and cities face". "High street crime undermines our security, our borders, and the confidence of our communities, and I am determined to take the decisive action necessary to bring those responsible to justice," he said.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
More than 20 arrests made in fraud crackdown
More than 20 people were arrested during a month-long fraud crackdown in Kent. Alleged crimes included pretending to be a police officer, solar panel installation scam and credit card fraud, said Kent Police. The campaign was part of the National Economic Crime Centre's Operation Henhouse which ran across the UK throughout February. Detective Inspector Marc Makin said: "Anyone can become a victim of fraud which is why we work tirelessly throughout the year tracking down and arresting suspects." "Campaigns like these give us an opportunity to focus our efforts on bringing those offenders to justice," he added. Officers returned nearly £1m to a victim of an investment scam and seized a Harley Davidson motorbike which was suspected to have been bought with criminal gains. As well as 22 arrests, Kent Police sent cease and desist letters to a suspected rogue trader and one person suspected of online vehicle sales fraud. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ MP calls for investigation into collapse of firm Fraud warning after nine lose £1m in crypto scam Kent Police National Crime Agency
