A BBC undercover investigation has revealed claims that a man linked to an organised criminal network offered to make large penalties for illegal working disappear.
Secretly recorded footage shows the man, who calls himself Shaxawan, outlining how he said he could shield migrants from fines and set them up to run mini-marts using false company details.
The BBC reports that the network involves several Kurdish men and operates across the UK, exploiting gaps in company registration and labour regulation to help migrants, including asylum seekers, work without permission.
Alleged Services and Methods
During a covert meeting arranged by the BBC, Shaxawan described a system where migrants could run shops under the protection of ghost directors, people paid to have businesses registered under their names. He told an undercover journalist that the arrangement would reduce the risk of Immigration Enforcement identifying who was truly managing the shop.
“I will… set up your company, provide the [card] machine, get you electricity, speak to your landlord,” he said. “I’ll make sure you have no issues.”
He also claimed that once a fine was issued, an English woman involved in the network could ensure that “she makes it zero.” He suggested that enforcement teams would not be able to investigate the paperwork thoroughly enough to notice the deception.
Company Records and Prior Activity
According to the BBC, Companies House records list Kardos Mateen, believed to be the same person as Shaxawan, as a director of 18 companies located across northern England. When confronted later by journalists, he denied wrongdoing.
Trading Standards told the BBC that illegal cigarettes had been discovered in several shops registered to Mr Mateen, and undercover BBC reporters bought counterfeit tobacco in four of these sites.
Ghost Directors and Widespread Use
After the first meeting, the BBC was sent identification documents for a proposed ghost director, Bryar Mohammed Zada, a 28 year old Iranian man. Companies House links Mr Zada to 20 businesses, many of which are car washes or mini-marts stretching from Newcastle to Essex. Illegal cigarettes were found by undercover reporters at four of his premises. Mr Zada did not respond to BBC inquiries.
Further Claims at a Huddersfield Solicitors Office
In a second stage of the investigation, a BBC journalist was directed to RKS Solicitors in Huddersfield, where he again encountered Shaxawan inside the building. The meeting took place in an upstairs office where the journalist, posing as someone whose relative had received an illegal working fine, was told that company control could be transferred to somebody else for a fee to avoid penalties.
RKS Solicitors later told the BBC it had no involvement in any illegal activity and that the individuals mentioned were not acting for the firm.
Undercover Reporter Offered Falsified Documents
A separate BBC reporter, also undercover, visited the same branch after receiving a fictional £60,000 fine in his cover story. Before the appointment began, he met Shaxawan outside. Shaxawan repeated that fines could be reassigned to Hungarians who “live nearby,” allegedly for a payment of £2,000 to £3,000 each.
Inside the office, the reporter met paralegal Zohaib Hussain, with Shaxawan remaining in the room. Speaking quietly, Mr Hussain asked about the fine and the mini-mart. He said the first step was to challenge the penalty and added that, if necessary, “sometimes we might have to make documents,” such as “business agreements.”
He said passing the fine to another individual would be a last resort, and indicated he would charge £3,500 for the work.
Legal Commentary and Official Responses
The BBC showed its footage to immigration lawyer Bryony Rest, who said the conversations pointed to “likely fraud and immigration offences” and that enforcement bodies would be expected to investigate.
When contacted by the BBC, Mr Hussain denied all allegations and said he had no connection to “Mr Shaxawan Jawad.”
RKS Solicitors said it had suspended the individual concerned, notified the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and stated that Mr Hussain was a supervised paralegal not authorised to give immigration or tax advice.
Shaxawan, also known as Kardos Mateen, told the BBC by email that he categorically denied “every allegation, insinuation and claim” and said he had no involvement with RKS Solicitors.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Home Office would examine the BBC’s findings, saying, “Illegal working and linked organised criminality creates an incentive for people to come here illegally. We will not stand for it.”
Read the full article on the BBC website here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3kevkl3pdo
