Gransnet forums

News & politics

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.

Oreo Fri 07-Nov-25 17:17:29

Anyone of any colour /ethnicity without much money buys the contraband stuff BlueBelle.
Why do you imagine it’s white English?

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 17:17:14

Maremia

What is that daft thing they say about the 60's?
If you remember them, you weren't there.
Plenty of 'pot' with it's strange weedy smell, as you passed folk in the street.

Not in the early 60s but later on, yes.

Rosie51 Fri 07-Nov-25 17:15:45

Oh and the local shop in my parents' village in Devon sold 'under the counter' cigarettes and tobacco brought in from trips to Europe many years ago. White owned shop, very much mostly white customers. I didn't think that was OK and neither did my parents, who despite both being smokers never availed themselves of the cheaper option.

Rosie51 Fri 07-Nov-25 17:11:36

BlueBelle

Hooray for a sensible reply Babs07
The Kurds and many other ethnic minorities have often helped us fought alongside us and as a whole group deserve our respect
I HATE all this division in headlines and this is equally nasty
Someone up thread ask who buys the contraband well homegrown WHITE English of course but that’s ok isn’t it ?

Why can’t we accept people as we find them without piling everyone into a big old bundle

Someone up thread ask who buys the contraband well homegrown WHITE English of course but that’s ok isn’t it ?

Only white English eh? So not any other English person who isn't white, or maybe an Asian descent Scot living locally, or a black Welshman? Can you link to where you got this detailed information? I'd have assumed that people of varying races and nationalities would buy, anyone prepared to deal 'under the counter' but you know better. I dont think it's OK whatever colour or nationality the buyers are.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 17:10:58

What is that daft thing they say about the 60's?
If you remember them, you weren't there.
Plenty of 'pot' with it's strange weedy smell, as you passed folk in the street.

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 17:01:11

I remember the early 60s too.
There weren't many drugs around, if any.
No vapes
There were cigarettes, sold in proper tobacconists' shops.

GrannySomerset Fri 07-Nov-25 16:59:27

In the very early 60s DH used to go to a Turkish barber in Totttenham Court Road so there is nothing new about that particular calling. He was a very good and cheap barber too.

petra Fri 07-Nov-25 16:43:48

Turkish Kurds were responsible for shooting this innocent 9 year old child.
Their violence is unspeakable 🤬

www.itv.com/news/london/2025-08-19/the-london-turk-gang-war-bloodshed-and-bullets

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 16:42:47

It's an ongoing battle.

NotSpaghetti Fri 07-Nov-25 16:38:54

Re Allira's link to the NCA
Some people might like to see what other successes there have been.

There is a search box if you are interested in something particular.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 16:25:08

Well, that could happen.

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 16:21:55

Let's hope the BBC hasn't jeopardised any ongoing investigations, in fact!

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 16:21:15

No! 🙂

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 16:20:16

I suppose the Police can't publicise what they are doing, until they are in a position to make arrests.

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 16:18:05

Maremia

Thanks, it's a general term.
Now, if we could just concentrate on those sort of people. Focus on them.

This report is about just one man arrested last year.

www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/suspected-leader-of-kurdish-people-smuggling-network-arrested-in-portsmouth?highlight=WyJuYXRpb24iLCJuYXRpb25hbCIsIm5hdGlvbmFsbHkiLCJuYXRpb25zJyIsIm5hdGlvbmFsaXR5IiwibmF0aW9uYWxzIiwibmF0aW9ucyIsIm5hdGlvbmFsbHknIiwibmF0aW9uYWxpdGllcyIsIm5hdGlvbidzIl0=

Work has been going on behind the scenes for many years, I know, but it seems like fighting a losing battle.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 16:13:58

Thanks, it's a general term.
Now, if we could just concentrate on those sort of people. Focus on them.

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 16:12:00

Maremia

Is the Kurdish OCG 'special' group, like the mafia, and triads?

Well, OCG is Organised Crime Groups and they are certainly more organised than the authorities.

They're involved in people trafficking, drug smuggling, you name it, they have fingers in the pies, not just here.

Allira Fri 07-Nov-25 16:08:59

Maremia

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.

Probably nothing would have progressed much without the ITV drama-documentary which shocked us all.

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 16:06:28

Is the Kurdish OCG 'special' group, like the mafia, and triads?

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.

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.

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? 🤔

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

RosieandherMaw

Coaband ????

A typing error for goodness sake.

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.

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.