Met officers also seized 1,200 illegal vapes and £22k in cash
The Metropolitan Police has seized £240k worth of counterfeit goods from high street shops in London amid a money laundering crackdown. Officers targeted 30 venues across the city including barbershops, fast food outlets, car workshops, nail bars, money service bureaus.
The enforcement operation – which was supported by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and Immigration Enforcement among other bodies – resulted in hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of items being seized, along with 1,200 illegal vapes and £22k in cash.
Officers also recovered illegal knives that had been on display for sale and seized fraudulent tills and chip-and-pin machines. They also removed 57 hazardous toys that pose a risk to children’s safety.
Police say it is part of a wider initiative from the National Crime Agency to tackle organised crime. The modern slavery team, working with the Met, 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.
Detective Superintendent Kerry Wood, Head of the Met’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “This operation shows the Met’s commitment to keeping London’s high streets safe, fair and free from criminal exploitation.
“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.”
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