Criminal gangs could be using barber shops as bases, expert warns

Criminal gangs could be using barber shops as bases for human trafficking, slave labour and drugs, security expert warns

• Gangs are using some businesses to conceal the proceeds of crime, sources say
• Barber shops across UK could be a base for human trafficking and slave labour 

Barber shops are one of the fastest growing trades on the high street – but officials fear they are increasingly being used as a front for organised crime.

Security sources have told The Mail on Sunday that gangs are using some businesses to conceal the proceeds of crime, and that many could be a base for human trafficking and slave labour in the same way nail bars and car washes have been used in the past.

The explosion of barber shops in London and other major UK cities has prompted experts to call for an investigation.

Some are being run by Albanian and Kurdish gangs suspected of making money by smuggling tens of thousands of migrants from Calais to Dover on lorries and small boats across the Channel.

Former Metropolitan Police officer Ali Hassan Ali said: ‘Right across High Streets we have seen a boom in barbers opening up since the pandemic.

Barber shops are one of the fastest growing trades on the high street – but officials fear they are increasingly being used as a front for organised crime (stock image)

‘A lot of these shops have thousands of pounds of equipment but no customers.

‘While in some cases the shops will be involved in legitimate business, from my own experience, there is strong reason to believe a large number, particularly those owned by Albanians, Turks and Kurds, have links to organised crime.

‘This can be people-smuggling and in some cases drugs.

‘We know the people smuggling gangs in Calais have been traditionally operated by Kurds but they are now working with the Albanians.’

He added: ‘The sudden increase of barber shops is really concerning because they are playing a part in funding human trafficking and in the misery that causes.’ The latest data compiled by the National Hair and Beauty Federation shows that between 2014 and 2019 there was a 64 per cent increase in the number of barber shops in the UK, from 7,958 to 13,046.

At the same time, more upmarket hair salons saw an increase of 21 per cent, from 13,694 in 2014 to 16,559 in 2019.

While the pandemic reduced the number of barber shops and hair salons, they are increasing again to pre-pandemic levels.

Last year, an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) found that Gul Wali Jabarkhel, 33, was using his barbershop in Colindale, north London, as a front for organised crime. The Afghan was trying to recruit lorry drivers to bring migrants from northern France and Belgium into the UK, offering around £2,500 per person smuggled.

While the pandemic reduced the number of barber shops and hair salons, they are increasing again to pre-pandemic levels (stock image)

He was arrested at his barbershop and last April was jailed for ten years. Three other associates received shorter sentences.

The NCA recently warned that the amount of criminal cash leaving the UK has risen ‘exponentially’ over the past four years, driven by Albanian drug gangs sending money home.

Organised crime syndicates from the Balkan state have almost taken over the UK’s cocaine market, while Turkish gangs have traditionally dominated the heroin supply.

Trusted associates will be tasked with shipping back the proceeds of crime with businesses used as a front to ‘clean the money’.

If they are stopped, they are able to argue the wealth is from a British-based business, such as car washes, nail bars or barber shops.

Glyn Rankin, who used to work for the Human Trafficking Centre, which became part of the NCA, said: ‘It may be that people who are smuggled into the UK could be made to work in these shops until their debt is paid. We should be looking at them like we did at the nail bars and car washes.’

Last night, a spokesman for the NCA said: ‘Money laundering is a key factor of serious and organised crime. The NCA and its partners in law enforcement, government and the private sector are committed to disrupting the flow of illicit cash and preventing organised criminals from benefiting from their crimes.’

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