Up to £464m ‘moved through more than 3,000 UK high street shell companies’

The Guardian World Monday 24 August 2026, 12:49 UTC By Simon Goodley 1 min read

Key Points

Research shows firms are branded as beauty and convenience but apparently operate in money-laundering and terrorist financing sectorsUp to £464m has “moved through” more than 3,000 UK shell companies branded as beauty and convenience stores but apparently operating in the money-laundering and terrorist financing sectors, a new analysis sets out. The companies – listed as hairdressers, barber shops and salons, on the one hand, or mini-marts and corner shops on the other – show “remarkably...

Research shows firms are branded as beauty and convenience but apparently operate in money-laundering and terrorist financing sectors

Up to £464m has “moved through” more than 3,000 UK shell companies branded as beauty and convenience stores but apparently operating in the money-laundering and terrorist financing sectors, a new analysis sets out.

The companies – listed as hairdressers, barber shops and salons, on the one hand, or mini-marts and corner shops on the other – show “remarkably similar lifespans” of about six months despite their seemingly different purposes.

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Up to £464m ‘moved through more than 3,000 UK high street shell companies’

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