Barbers, Nail Salons and Vape Shops

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Originally Posted by The Modfather

I passed the trophy shop at Slateford at the weekend. Even if they do extras like cutting keys etc, how can that possibly be a profitable business. Just how many folk or kids teams regularly need a cheap plastic trophy or medal?

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online? Repeat business over the years? They’re well established no?

The business to be in is the shopfitting business tho - the amount of restaurants that repeatedly failed but then went through a refit before reopening as another business in Abbeyhill since we moved back in 2001 was ridiculous…. Stabilised now mind.

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Originally Posted by Viva_Palmeiras

The business to be in is the shopfitting business tho - the amount of restaurants that repeatedly failed but then went through a refit before reopening as another business in Abbeyhill since we moved back in 2001 was ridiculous…. Stabilised now mind.

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I think restaurants have one of the highest business failure rates. A lot of people imagine it being different than the reality of trying to turn a profit in a highly competitive market.


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Originally Posted by Viva_Palmeiras

online? Repeat business over the years? They’re well established no?

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Yeah a place I visited for many years for football trophies for players of the year awards etc, Im sure it was the go to place for Maybury, Saturday and Sunday amateur leagues as well as 5 aside tourneys and thats just for football, no doubt bowls, golf, croquet etc used it.

Alpha Sports was it called ?

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Originally Posted by Jack

Add American sweet shops to the list. Private Eye did a thing on them, in London, a while back before we got the same in Edinburgh.

I'm not sure about some of the Indian street food places either.

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Councils closed a lot of them down in London. Money laundering, fake goods.

Another is taking a shop/food unit, washing a load of cash through supposed fit-outs etc that never really happen and then dissappearing.

Fake coffee shops as well which tell you to f off if you go in and ask for a coffee!!!

Porty High St has about 6 barbers and 3-4 nail/beauty salons. I've been going to the same barber, Salon La Greca at western corner for about 20 years now, currently paying £10 due to now being 66yr old. 😁

This might be the most naive thing I’ve ever said… but is there even that much crime going on, leading to such a significant amount of money needing laundered?

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Originally Posted by Smartie

This might be the most naive thing I’ve ever said… but is there even that much crime going on, leading to such a significant amount of money needing laundered?

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The amount of folk on cocaine these days I’d presume there must be plenty cash needing washed.

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Originally Posted by Smartie

This might be the most naive thing I’ve ever said… but is there even that much crime going on, leading to such a significant amount of money needing laundered?

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It's estimated over £10 billion in street drugs are bought in the UK each year, that's a lot of washing

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Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7

It's estimated over £10 billion in street drugs are bought in the UK each year, that's a lot of washing

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9.4 Billion according to UK Gov. If Edinburgh had a per capita share of that then 70 Million quid would need washed a year. That is about a 12 quid haircut once a month for every occupant of Edinburgh

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Originally Posted by Bridge hibs

He used to break into houses around the Inverleith area and sell the stuff in his store, especially expensive golf clubs etc, the Police knew but he always struck deals with them as he was believed to be an informer

Roddy McLean book is an interesting read Attachment 28426

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He had the big massive house at Trinity with big boat and luxury cars, seemingly passed away after allegedly escaping from a open prison down south but were reports that he was living in South Africa, he obviously had contacts in high up places, killed a coastguard if I remember right when caught with a load of hash on a boat, boasted that he killed for the government.

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Originally Posted by Smartie

This might be the most naive thing I’ve ever said… but is there even that much crime going on, leading to such a significant amount of money needing laundered?

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Cocaine and weed is everywhere, it’s a lot of money to be laundered every week, my problem with the barbers are I don’t think they are the drug dealers but launder for people higher up in that business, but how do they afford the high end cars or are they on finance through the business, I’m sure these barbers are busy on the weekends and they get enough through the week to tick things over.

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Originally Posted by silverhibee

Cocaine and weed is everywhere, it’s a lot of money to be laundered every week, my problem with the barbers are I don’t think they are the drug dealers but launder for people higher up in that business, but how do they afford the high end cars or are they on finance through the business, I’m sure these barbers are busy on the weekends and they get enough through the week to tick things over.

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My main problem with it is they have literally killed off the high street in the area I used to live. Unless you want your hair cut, your nose piercing, a tattoo, your nails done or to put on a bet, then you have to travel further afield. The legitimate businesses are suffering because of it too, walk by customers have decreased due to the lack of variety in the shops.

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Originally Posted by silverhibee

Cocaine and weed is everywhere, it’s a lot of money to be laundered every week, my problem with the barbers are I don’t think they are the drug dealers but launder for people higher up in that business, but how do they afford the high end cars or are they on finance through the business, I’m sure these barbers are busy on the weekends and they get enough through the week to tick things over.

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Imagine if we just legalised weed. Like they do in many European countries including multiple states in America.

Think of the Tax revenue we could pull in. Taking the network away from criminals.

But no.

J

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Originally Posted by Bristolhibby

Correct. Just wash the money through as if it was a packed out barber shop. Then the money from nefarious means is clean, accounted for and the owner can explain the £100k Range Rovers. They'd pay a bit of tax, but that’s the cost of business.

Amazing though in this day and age of dabbing your card how many customers must pay cash.

J

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Surely for money laundering purposes, a few card transactions is of benefit to them. Makes them look more legit and provides a potential paper trail for some legitimate transactions which might make them look less dodgy overall. Different for tax evasion, granted.

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Originally Posted by greenlex

There’s plenty a Chinese takeaway that’s cash only. :greengrin

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I'm not meaning to veer into racial stereotypes here but that could be for non-money laundering or tax evasion reasons. When I used to work late shifts at the cinema at Ocean Terminal, I'd drive past the old casino in Leith Docks late at night (11/12) and it would be crazy the amount of Asian people getting out of cars with what looked like swag bags, presumably full of cash. Looked like they literally closed up their business for the night, took the takings and were putting it all on 15 black.

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Originally Posted by Smartie

This might be the most naive thing I’ve ever said… but is there even that much crime going on, leading to such a significant amount of money needing laundered?

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Yes - drugs, prostitution, sale of stolen goods, people trafficking, IPTV. The list goes on. The people higher up the chain won't want it all going through the one "legitimate" business either, hence why there are loads of these types of places.

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Originally Posted by overdrive

Surely for money laundering purposes, a few card transactions is of benefit to them. Makes them look more legit and provides a potential paper trail for some legitimate transactions which might make them look less dodgy overall. Different for tax evasion, granted.




I'm not meaning to veer into racial stereotypes here but that could be for non-money laundering or tax evasion reasons. When I used to work late shifts at the cinema at Ocean Terminal, I'd drive past the old casino in Leith Docks late at night (11/12) and it would be crazy the amount of Asian people getting out of cars with what looked like swag bags, presumably full of cash. Looked like they literally closed up their business for the night, took the takings and were putting it all on 15 black.




Yes - drugs, prostitution, sale of stolen goods, people trafficking, IPTV. The list goes on.

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Chinese people love gambling. Not sure that counts as a stereotype when it factually correct?

Dodgy fire sticks must make up a fair bit of organised crime income these days?


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The most obvious example of a money laundering front I'd encountered personally was when I went to a new barbers when I lived in Bruntsfield. The two women working in there had clearly never cut hair before. The first one made a state of my hair. The second one tried to fix it and made it worse. Clearly it had opened up and they plonked two people in there with no experience of the legitimate business it was claiming to be.

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Originally Posted by Bristolhibby

Imagine if we just legalised weed. Like they do in many European countries including multiple states in America.

Think of the Tax revenue we could pull in. Taking the network away from criminals.

But no.

J

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I was just going to say this,

Legalise it, take it out the hands of the gangsters.

Too simple?

To merge 2 different parts of this thread....I just went for a "haircut" (using quotes, as it's not exactly a long job these days), to find that they'd just done a refit :greengrin

As an aside, I love the way local shops plagiarise the names of big concerns, but just enough to avoid the legal peoiple taking action. Mine is "Barber King". :cb

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

To merge 2 different parts of this thread....I just went for a "haircut" (using quotes, as it's not exactly a long job these days), to find that they'd just done a refit :greengrin

As an aside, I love the way local shops plagiarise the names of big concerns, but just enough to avoid the legal peoiple taking action. Mine is "Barber King". :cb

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My favourite was a convenience store in Newcastle (I think). Was called Singhsbury's. Sainsbury's threatened to sue so they changed to Morrisinghs :greengrin

To be fair, they totally ripped off both the Sainsbury's and Morrisons logos too.

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Originally Posted by overdrive

My favourite was a convenience store in Newcastle (I think). Was called Singhsbury's. Sainsbury's threatened to sue so they changed to Morrisinghs :greengrin

To be fair, they totally ripped off both the Sainsbury's and Morrisons logos too.

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The wee shop beside my barber is called Jasda. :greengrin

Best one has to be the coffee shop in China, Star****s

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

The wee shop beside my barber is called Jasda. :greengrin

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Theres a good one on Porty High St called Turkish Hairways, I loved the one on Whitburn High St too called Curl Up and Dye 🫢

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Originally Posted by babahibs

I was just going to say this,

Legalise it, take it out the hands of the gangsters.

Too simple?

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Not for me. I think most politicians also think that is the way to go but there is a lack of courage.


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Originally Posted by Bristolhibby

Imagine if we just legalised weed. Like they do in many European countries including multiple states in America.

Think of the Tax revenue we could pull in. Taking the network away from criminals.

But no.

J

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And bizarrely enough the UK is one of the biggest exporters of cannabis.

I go to a Kurdish barber in Gorgie and he’s excellent but to be fair I had the option of seven others on Gorgie Road. Feels like every second shop there is a barbers.

On the subject of money laundering there’s been lots of speculation that all the tartan tat shops are really just a front. Loads of stores selling low cost high volume stock, easy to funnel cash through and incredibly difficult to audit you would imagine.

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Originally Posted by Lendo

I go to a Kurdish barber in Gorgie and he’s excellent but to be fair I had the option of seven others on Gorgie Road. Feels like every second shop there is a barbers.

On the subject of money laundering there’s been lots of speculation that all the tartan tat shops are really just a front. Loads of stores selling low cost high volume stock, easy to funnel cash through and incredibly difficult to audit you would imagine.

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Any business that deals in cash is excellent for money laundering. HMRC can’t really dispute your income so long as you keep it reasonable. They don’t have the staff these days to investigate. And there is no real policing of white collar crime in the UK anyway.
Barbers are great because there is not much stock. With sweet shops I guess you have to buy a lot of sticks to keep it semi respectable. Probably end up throwing a lot of it away.


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Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

Any business that deals in cash is excellent for money laundering. HMRC can’t really dispute your income so long as you keep it reasonable. They don’t have the staff these days to investigate. And there is no real policing of white collar crime in the UK anyway.
Barbers are great because there is not much stock. With sweet shops I guess you have to buy a lot of sticks to keep it semi respectable. Probably end up throwing a lot of it away.


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It's not HMRC's job to investigate money-laundering. They do, though, have a duty to report any suspicions of it to the National Crime Agency, as do solicitors, banks, most accountants, and many other client-led businesses..

As for "no policing", I would disagree. It's very common for ML charges to be tacked on to charges of drug-dealing and other high-value crimes. It's those crimes that they are most interested in, and the ML is often their way in.

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

It's not HMRC's job to investigate money-laundering. They do, though, have a duty to report any suspicions of it to the National Crime Agency, as do solicitors, banks, most accountants, and many other client-led businesses..

As for "no policing", I would disagree. It's very common for ML charges to be tacked on to charges of drug-dealing and other high-value crimes. It's those crimes that they are most interested in, and the ML is often their way in.

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Yes but as far as the investigating goes, it’s usually once they have evidence of the drug dealing that they go after the money laundering? Do they ever investigate suspicious businesses that leads them to drug dealers? If that makes sense?


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Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

Yes but as far as the investigating goes, it’s usually once they have evidence of the drug dealing that they go after the money laundering? Do they ever investigate suspicious businesses that leads them to drug dealers? If that makes sense?


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The ML can often lead them to the main crime.

That's where the reporting by all of those people I mentioned can come in useful. The regime was brought in post 9/11, initially to identify terrorist funding, but was quickly extended and adapted to cover all crimes.... and not just ML.

And the Police are not daft (cue the smartarses :greengrin). They will have a fair idea of who the MLs are, but obviously need evidence to tie that back to the main crime.