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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