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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.

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.

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 14:27:09

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Yes, find the organisers.

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 12:49:48

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 12:24:25

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.

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?

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.

silverlining48 Fri 07-Nov-25 12:06:18

Calling people illegals denies their humanity, as well as the humanity of those that use the term.
As for taking immigrants in, our family have taken in 8, from Syria, Nigeria/ Ukraine and Afghanistan. They are all working now and contributing to the country where they now live in.

Oreo Fri 07-Nov-25 11:48:31

So many Turkish barbers, nail salons and so on are money laundering outlets, they don’t care about having any customers.

Oreo Fri 07-Nov-25 11:47:24

Lily Allen has ‘problems’ which include stunts to get her noticed.

windmill1 Fri 07-Nov-25 11:38:48

silverlining48

I find the title of this thread unpleasant, calling people from elsewhere ‘ illegals’ demeans both the individuals referred to and even worse, the person who thinks it ok to use that expression.

But it is true. Illegals are illegals.

And I personally find it more than odd that those pictured holding signs saying "WELCOME" are not rushing to offer the illegals (there, I've said it again) a safe space in their own homes.

I remenmber celebrity Lily Allen making a fool of herself by going to the Calais migrant camp and getting down on her knees and publicly "apologising on behalf on the British people."

So how many illegals did Ms Allen take in?

Maremia Fri 07-Nov-25 11:25:53

Again, is this another example of how our regulation and inspection services have endured 13/14 years of Tory cutbacks?

BlueBelle Fri 07-Nov-25 11:21:21

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