Shopped: the Met raids on dodgy high street traders seized £250,000-worth of cash and counterfeit goods
Shops in Croydon and in Brixton have been among 30 sites raided by the Metropolitan Police, seizing hundreds of thousands of pounds-worth of counterfeit goods and suspected illegal cash as part of an operation to disrupt money laundering and the exploitation of vulnerable workers.
Police were accompanied on the raids by tax officials from HM Revenue and Customs, as well as immigration enforcement from the Home Office and specialists in countering modern-day slavery.
“Officers targeted a range of cash-intensive businesses believed to be linked to criminal activity,” the Met said in a statement issued today. “These included barbershops, fast food outlets, car workshops, nail bars, money service bureaux and other high street venues.”
The Met was unable to be more specific about the locations raided in Croydon.
The enforcement activity resulted in the seizure of counterfeit goods worth £240,000, around 1,200 illegal vapes and £22,000 in cash.
Officers also recovered illegal knives that had been on display for sale and they seized fraudulent tills and chip-and-pin machines.
“This operation shows the Met’s commitment to keeping London’s high streets safe, fair and free from criminal exploitation,” said Detective Superintendent Kerry Wood, the head of the Met’s economic crime unit.
“Criminal networks use cash-heavy businesses to hide illicit profits, exploit vulnerable workers and undercut honest traders. Our work focuses on disrupting that activity by seizing illegal goods, removing criminal cash and gathering vital evidence for ongoing investigations.
“We are committed to protecting communities and supporting legitimate businesses, while ensuring anyone seeking to profit from criminal activity is identified and held to account.”
Bagged: police were accompanied by officials from HMRC and the Home Office on the raids
HMRC has launched five new investigations since the raids. Immigration Enforcement officers supported visits to 13 venues, and technology firm Apple assisted officers at six locations where counterfeit devices were identified.
The modern slavery team attended seven venues, acting on intelligence surrounding forced labour with workers believed to have been trafficked into the country against their will.
Police and local authorities have also begun closure proceedings against seven venues.
The visits were carried out across London, including in Bexley and Greenwich, as well as other boroughs.
It is part of a National Crime Agency-coordinated initiative.
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It’s just shocking it has taken them so long to do this. With the revenue and footfall they are getting …there is no way those shops can afford those rents on Croydon high streets in the first place . They take advantage of non rental payment and eviction protection rules whilst raking it from illegal activities… while Mayor Perry prances around Croydon as if it in its glory years.
You just have to see all the shops in West Croydon. Stacked up with perishable fruit and veg that nobody seems to buy.
Where, ON EARTH, do you get the idea that no one’s buying this fruit and veg? I grant you that it’s weird that there are, about, 67 shops between Mayday and West Croydon station selling the same perishables. But, they all seem busy.
OP is alluding to all shops engaging in illegal activity in West Croydon. That isn’t true. Rockbottom and Bestfoods are legit. Rockbottom makes money from the flats upstairs and Bestfoods makes a 6 fig profit cobsistently every year according to CH. OP is probably alluding to the vape and phone shops, diy shop, butchers, small restaurants and barbers. This is all common knowledge in the area yet Mayor Perry turns a blind eye.
If someone like Maplin couldn’t afford the rent at £100k per annum on the corner of West Croydon. It makes you wonder how a random DIY shop selling crap with little footfall inside the shop can afford the rent too. Just IMHO OFC.
Maplin went bust in 2018, all 217 shops shut. They couldn’t afford the rent for any of them.
Valid point Nick. Should of mentioned Matthews Yard instead as I have not really visited that area after 2018. Either way the area is just horrendous and these police are just too scared to do anything. Mayor Perry incl.
“Either way the area is just horrendous and these police are just too scared to do anything.”
According to the bloke who confesses to not having been there for seven years.
This is a major blow to the local Croydon economy. Where are Reform to defend small businesses from this unwarranted intrusion of the State actually upholding the law. After decades of effective deregulation allowing these crooks to do exactly what they want, I am afraid it will be to little too late unless the State is relentless in doubling down and prevent the usual rapid reopening. The plain fact it is too impoverished to do this any longer.