In a significant blow to organised criminal networks, the Metropolitan Police has confiscated a substantial haul of illicit items, including £240,000 worth of counterfeit goods, during a targeted crackdown on money laundering across London's high streets.
Widespread Enforcement Operation
The coordinated action, which took place on November 11, 2025, saw officers from the Met's Economic Crime Unit target 30 different venues throughout the city. The businesses subjected to scrutiny included barbershops, fast food outlets, car workshops, nail bars, and money service bureaus.
This large-scale operation was not conducted in isolation. The Met received crucial support from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and Immigration Enforcement, highlighting a multi-agency approach to dismantling criminal enterprises.
A Multitude of Illicit Items Seized
Beyond the quarter-of-a-million pounds in fake merchandise, the enforcement sweep yielded a diverse array of illegal products and assets. Officers successfully seized 1,200 illegal vapes and recovered £22,000 in cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
The operation also uncovered more dangerous items, with police confiscating illegal knives that were openly displayed for sale. In a move to disrupt sophisticated financial crime, officers took possession of fraudulent tills and chip-and-pin machines.
Public safety was a further concern, leading to the removal of 57 hazardous toys that posed a direct risk to children's safety.
Tackling Exploitation and Wider Criminal Networks
This initiative forms a key part of a broader investigation led by the National Crime Agency into organised crime. The Met's modern slavery team, acting on specific intelligence, attended seven venues where workers were suspected of having been trafficked into the country against their will for forced labour.
As a direct consequence of the operation's findings, police and local authorities have now initiated closure proceedings against seven of the targeted businesses.
Detective Superintendent Kerry Wood, Head of the Met’s Economic Crime Unit, stated: "This operation shows the Met’s commitment to keeping London’s high streets safe, fair and free from criminal exploitation."
She further explained, "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."
