Why we went undercover for the BBC to expose crime in the Kurdish community
Published: 11/8/2025

Two Kurdish men went undercover for the BBC to expose a crime network operating illegal businesses in the UK, damaging the reputation of Kurds. Saman and Ali, Kurdish reporters, discovered a network running mini-marts, barbershops, and car washes across Britain, where businesses are registered in UK citizens' names to evade authorities. The investigation uncovered how easy it is for asylum seekers, like many Kurds, to work in illegal markets due to restrictions and delays in the UK asylum process, ultimately damaging the entire Kurdish community.



