Police forces across southern and western England have launched a wave of coordinated raids on so-called “Turkish-style” barbershops, uncovering a trove of illicit goods and triggering multiple arrests.
The surprise operations, carried out late last week with media in tow, yielded stashes of cash, narcotics, and counterfeit merchandise. Several individuals now face charges ranging from immigration violations to ties with organized crime.
Authorities suspect that many of the targeted shops are linked to Albanian and Kurdish criminal networks operating under the radar of legitimate business. These barbershops, often sprouting up alongside vape stores and “American candy” shops, have exploded in number across the UK high street, raising eyebrows among locals and law enforcement alike.
In smaller towns like Porth in Wales, with a population of just 6,000, residents have sounded the alarm. The number of “Turkish” barbershops there is expected to balloon from five to thirteen—all within walking distance—despite limited demand and the presence of several traditional salons.
While critics have long speculated that these shops may be fronts for money laundering or drug activity, concerns have often been dismissed or labeled as xenophobic. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been one of the few vocal public figures warning about the phenomenon, though not without controversy.
The British high street, already battered by online shopping, pandemic closures, and unpopular car restrictions, has seen a curious resurgence—not from traditional retailers, but from these niche businesses now under scrutiny. With physical retail in decline, the rapid rise of such shops once seemed like a glimmer of hope for vacant storefronts. But now, some fear they’re bringing crime, not commerce.
These recent raids might mark a turning point, hinting that UK authorities are finally taking a closer look at what’s really going on behind those barber poles.
