Closed doors and shuttered shops are a common sighting across British high streets but it's the rise in certain businesses that is raising eyebrows and questions about what is truly happening behind a welcome sign these days. Whilst lots of these businesses are legit and legally-run, some are hiding a sinister underbelly. Barber shops, Bureau de change, and American sweet stores can be signs of some business types being used by directly under the nose of unassuming locals.

Offering international transfer services, Bureau de Change stores are found across many cities and large towns despite the growing popularity of mobile payments. On a high street in Birmingham, counted 25 of these store types within a 500-yard radius, while in West London, more than 12 were spotted in less than a mile. According to the Local Data Company, the number of these types increased by 81 last year.

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Despite these stores often being a vital place for immigrant communities to send remittances to family abroad, experts have claimed they also have disturbing links to the UK drugs trade and, widely, global organised crime.

Put simply, criminals and gangs earn cash and need to find a way to launder their illegal profits, leaving stores like a Bureau de Change - known under the umbrella term money service businesses (MSBs) - vulnerable.

Drugs expert Gary Carroll, who spent more than 10 years in law enforcement and now gives court testimony on street drug gangs, said a typical way drug gangs laundered cash through MSBs was by targeting stores that were known to be negligent with ID requirements before sending it abroad to a 'trusted accomplice' overseas. He added that funds would either be stored abroad until the criminal is able to collect it or used to buy drugs to send back to Britain.

The former officer warned that the was 'clear evidence' MSBs had a 'significant role' to play in the rise of violent crime and drug-dealing in cities. In 2024 alone, there were 14,500 knife crimes recorded in London - which equates to nearly 40 a day. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has noted in its latest annual crime report that MSBs feature 'prominently' in its investigations.

Whilst working at a store which legally follows regulations aimed at preventing money laundering, staff member at small money transfer and currency exchange office, MODX Ltd, Mohammed Gariballa, agreed that the industry he works in, as a whole, has been infiltrated.

"There are dangers in this business. Money has been transferred by criminals who are working with people who are part of their gang at the other end. There have been cases where people have been kidnapped and tortured. In these instances, the person receiving the transaction confirms who they are but the criminals are with them and in control."

The former medical student admitted that he knows one trick criminals use to overthrow restrictions - transferring funds to low-risk countries before instantly sending them on to another. "We work with a major company that has very strict money laundering policies in place, and if somebody suspicious comes in, they will instruct us either to not carry out the transaction or try to keep them occupied until the police arrive, depending on how much of a concern there is."

Mr Carroll also admitted that criminals have found other savvy ways to 'beat' the system, including sending smaller amounts without any trace and convincing drug users to leave their ID at money exchange services for a fee - drugs or cash in hand - to mislead who is doing what.

The HMRC is responsible for supervising firms for compliance with rules on money laundering and ensuring that if they provide money remittance, they are authorised and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

A 48-year-old Iranian man, Asghar Gheshalghian, was jailed this month for eight years after acting as a money launderer for gangs trafficking Channel migrants. He ran an illegal money transfer business using a rug company as a disguise.

And last year, one London-based firm was stung with a £1.4 million and having a lack of anti-money laundering controls in place.

Regulation has been tightened and staff are switched on at all times, said legitimate staff at Amal Express, Adam Nur. "If they were asking for more than £5,000 we would not do it as that is over our limit.

"We know most of the people - they come here regularly. They send money back home to their families - no more than £100 to £200 at a time. If they were asking about a large amount of money we would refuse to send it."

According to the latest ONS figures looking at the rise of high street stores, beauty salons have risen by 88 per cent, takeaways by 60 per cent and convenience stores by 18, but figures won't allow for breaking down which businesses offer money transfer services within them. According to Sajid Mahmood, of Birmingham Travel and Money Transfer - who carry out detailed checks and refuse no ID transactions - it's easy to get involved in money transfer services.

Officials insist a crackdown across Britain, is underway. An FCA spokesperson said: "Reducing and preventing financial crime is a priority for us. This includes acting to ensure that regulated firms aren't used for money laundering."

An HMRC spokesperson said: "Businesses who fail to comply with money laundering regulations leave themselves, and the UK economy, open to attacks by criminals. We use a range of powers to tackle the minority of Money Service Businesses who fail to meet their legal obligations, which includes civil penalties and criminal prosecutions."

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