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Kurdish illegals involved with selling coaband.

(120 Posts)
Liloldlady Thu 06-Nov-25 14:58:06

Surprised that no-one has voiced an opinion on this undercover BBC report, maybe everyone is speechless at yet another government failure.

Onlymedea Fri 07-Nov-25 12:21:00

They are shutting the down in my town and neighbouring towns. Don't know if people were arrested but the shops are closed with a legal notice posted outside them.

StripeyGran Fri 07-Nov-25 12:22:57

Oh dear, We are barrel scrapeing now saying silly things about taking illegals in.

Nobody want chaos and fear in the country. But we do have to try to hang onto some shred of decency and humanity don't we?

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 12:24:25

Maremia

Just as a Point of Information, who was buying the contraband?
Who was letting out the premises?

It's very odd. There are the 'Mr Bigs'.
There seemed to be a dodgy solicitor involved plus hints of a woman in one area who could call in and make the huge fines imposed on shopkeepers disappear. Was she a corrupt official?

It seems to be a large, nationwide network.

Children are often the customers, sadly. No questions asked about age.

Onlymedea Fri 07-Nov-25 12:26:02

Locally they are shut down by a combination of police and trading standards. Aren't they being closed down elsewhere?

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 12:29:58

I've always supported the Kurdish people because of what they have suffered.

But Kurds are from more than one country as they don't have their own nation state. There are good and bad in all groups of people but we do seem to have a lot of the bad ones here, the Mafia. They are the ones who exploit asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.

Oreo Fri 07-Nov-25 12:41:57

Illegals is just a term for those entering the UK illegally and on forums it states the differences easily between those immigrants here legally and those who arrive on a dinghy across the Channel.
Denying humanity is going it a bit strong.

Oreo Fri 07-Nov-25 12:48:24

StripeyGran

Oh dear, We are barrel scrapeing now saying silly things about taking illegals in.

Nobody want chaos and fear in the country. But we do have to try to hang onto some shred of decency and humanity don't we?

I sometimes wonder if the things you say are things you really believe.
We are a very open and tolerant society and these boatloads of illegal immigrants ( another 1,000 just today btw) are taking advantage of the UK.Can you imagine what it costs to house and feed and anything else just for one week?
There are many UK citizens who need help with housing, MH issues and a leg up generally that we as a nation could be putting that money towards.It’s just not sustainable and is very unfair.

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 12:48:46

StripeyGran

Oh dear, We are barrel scrapeing now saying silly things about taking illegals in.

Nobody want chaos and fear in the country. But we do have to try to hang onto some shred of decency and humanity don't we?

But we do have to try to hang onto some shred of decency and humanity don't we?

I think shutting down these shops nationwide, finding the ringleaders and those assisting them, then prosecuting them would be a start, don't you?

After all, they are the ones exploiting illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, not to mention encouraging children to start smoking and vaping.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 12:49:48

Yes Allira, I remembered the bravery of the Daughters of Kobane, those Kurdish women, who fought ISIS, very near to the Turkish border.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 12:51:11

The premises that are being used, are they normally empty?
And now they will be empty again?

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 12:51:53

Yes, find the organisers.

petra Fri 07-Nov-25 12:55:07

Maremia

Just as a Point of Information, who was buying the contraband?
Who was letting out the premises?

The landlord of our charity shop owned the shop next door that is now selling hooky goods.
He sold the shop.
As for who’s buying the stuff, there is a lady who arrives in her very nice Porsche Cayenne every week, parks round the back and loads up boxes.
She either smokes/vapes a lot or she has a legitimate business and does a lot of under the counter trade.
We do have regular customers in our charity shop who buy from them.

petra Fri 07-Nov-25 12:57:42

Maremia

The premises that are being used, are they normally empty?
And now they will be empty again?

The one next door to us was a hairdressers but he wanted bigger premises. He moved a few doors along.
The empty shop was only empty for a few weeks.

Calendargirl Fri 07-Nov-25 13:07:23

Onlymedea

They are shutting the down in my town and neighbouring towns. Don't know if people were arrested but the shops are closed with a legal notice posted outside them.

On our regional news site, it has shown the shops selling counterfeit cigarettes, vapes and similar being raided and shut down.

But then according to neighbouring shops, they are open again, sometimes even the same day, and still hawking the same stuff.

They don’t stay empty, certainly.

ViceVersa Fri 07-Nov-25 13:15:12

Organised crime squads do close these places down all the time - sadly, they just spring back up again. It's a huge business these days and with the police already stretched as it is, they're fighting a losing battle.

Teazel2 Fri 07-Nov-25 14:23:45

Oreo

StripeyGran

Oh dear, We are barrel scrapeing now saying silly things about taking illegals in.

Nobody want chaos and fear in the country. But we do have to try to hang onto some shred of decency and humanity don't we?

I sometimes wonder if the things you say are things you really believe.
We are a very open and tolerant society and these boatloads of illegal immigrants ( another 1,000 just today btw) are taking advantage of the UK.Can you imagine what it costs to house and feed and anything else just for one week?
There are many UK citizens who need help with housing, MH issues and a leg up generally that we as a nation could be putting that money towards.It’s just not sustainable and is very unfair.

Yes completely agree with you.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 14:27:09

It's good that the premises don't stay empty. But, apart from charity shops, are 'legal' businesses opening up?

NotSpaghetti Fri 07-Nov-25 14:38:31

I also think this involvement is by organised crime groups run by people of Kurdish ethnicity (as confirmed by law enforcement).

It does not mean that all people of Kurdish ethnicity, or individuals with "illegal" status, are involved in this crime.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 14:42:26

Very heartened by the Posters calling out about the housing needs. So, when RR raises taxes for this purpose, she will at least get some support from some GNs.

growstuff Fri 07-Nov-25 14:47:14

Maremia

Very heartened by the Posters calling out about the housing needs. So, when RR raises taxes for this purpose, she will at least get some support from some GNs.

Don't hold your breath hmm.

Oreo Fri 07-Nov-25 15:12:28

Maremia

Very heartened by the Posters calling out about the housing needs. So, when RR raises taxes for this purpose, she will at least get some support from some GNs.

Absolutely! Taxes should have gone up the minute Labour came into power in my view.
They could have got around the manifesto promise of no tax hikes by saying things were worse than they thought…which incidentally they did say but didn’t take the opportunity to raise taxes.

Ziplok Fri 07-Nov-25 15:20:51

RosieandherMaw

Coaband ????

A typing error for goodness sake.

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 15:59:24

Maremia

Yes Allira, I remembered the bravery of the Daughters of Kobane, those Kurdish women, who fought ISIS, very near to the Turkish border.

Yes, and the Kurds walking over the mountain passes, some in bare feet, escaping Saddam Hussein who was trying to exterminate them.

Of course there are criminals in all societies and we seem to have a fair few of the Kurdish OCG here, working in plain sight, employing illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, right under the noses of the authorities.

Why does it take journalists to discover all this? 🤔

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 16:03:09

Maremia

It's good that the premises don't stay empty. But, apart from charity shops, are 'legal' businesses opening up?

Coffee shops, cafés and restaurants, along with charity shops!

Apparently car washes are another cover.
I use the local one, nice blokes, cheery, do a good job.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 16:04:24

It seems to be the way now, doesn't it.
Who uncovered the Post Office scandal?
People take notice of what's in MSM, and it gains traction.
One local person reporting it directly, is probably ignored.