West Mercia Police 'dedicated' to continue tackling criminal gangs using barbershops as fronts for fraud
33 warrants were executed across our three counties in March, seizing over £500,000 in illegal funds
West Mercia Police say they will continue to tackle the sale of illicit goods and criminal gangs who could be using barbershops as fronts for fraud.
The force revealed in April as part of Operation Machinize, police had been involved in a targeted effort to combat criminal gangs using barbershops as fronts for fraud, money laundering, and the sale of illicit goods.
As part of the operation, 33 warrants were executed across our three counties, focusing on gangs exploiting barbershops to conceal illegal cash flow. While these businesses appeared legitimate, they were, in reality, tools for financial crime.
Working alongside Trading Standards, West Midlands Fire and Rescue, Immigration, and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, police seized over £500,000 in illegal funds and £16,000 in cash and arrested four individuals. Additionally, Trading Standards carried out three warrants, and Immigration made three further arrests.
Detective inspector Dan Fenn from the economic crime team says this type of crime continues to be a real focus for them.
"Those criminals use our community and use our high streets to launder money and we’re dedicated to tackling that,” he said.
“It’s been important to focus on places like this because as we’ve seen over the last couple of months and years the likes of barbershops have increased in our area and intelligence would suggest that they are focusing on using these premises to launder illicit gains.
“This has an impact on our economy and an impact on our communities so it is important to focus on tackling serious organised crime and taking the illicit gains from these criminals back into the economy.”