£500K seized in crackdown on barbershops used for money laundering

Operation Machinize, 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, we 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.

West Mercia Police’s Economic Crime Unit is leading the way nationally in tackling financial crime. Since April 2024, over £6 million in criminal assets have been seized, disrupting the financial networks that support organised crime.

Detective Inspector Dan Fenn, from our Economic Crime team, said: “Organised crime groups are opportunistic and exploit legitimate businesses, such as barbershops, to hide their illegal cash flow. The high cash turnover of these businesses makes them ideal for disguising illicit activities.

“Our work during Operation Machinize sends a clear message to these crime networks: we will not tolerate criminal activity in our communities.

“Following these warrants, 34 intelligence reports have been submitted, helping to build a stronger intelligence picture and supporting future operations.

“Community intelligence played a key role in this operation. Some of the information used to plan these raids came from public tip-offs. That local support is invaluable, and we encourage anyone with information about businesses involved in money laundering to report it.”

Our efforts to combat economic crime fall under Operation Target, which focuses on four key areas:

Pursue – Prosecuting and disrupting those involved in serious organised crime.

Prevent – Stopping individuals from becoming involved in organised crime.

Protect – Strengthening defences against organised crime threats.

Prepare – Reducing the impact of organised crime when it occurs.

If you have any information about businesses involved in fraud, money laundering, or the sale of illicit goods, please report it online here, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.

Pic: From West Mercia Police Bodycam