A shadowy figure known as the 'King of the Mini Mart' has been exposed as the ringleader of a sophisticated Kurdish organised crime network operating in plain sight across British high streets.
The Elusive Mastermind
Operating under the aliases Shaxawan Jamal and Kardos Mateen, the mysterious crime boss conducts his business from West Yorkshire cafes and a solicitor's office while driving a £90,000 BMW SUV and wearing expensive gold watches. Despite his flashy lifestyle, his true identity remains unknown, with associates simply referring to him as 'the accountant'.
Last week, undercover BBC reporters unmasked Shaxawan, believed to be in his 30s, as the mastermind behind a nationwide syndicate that has established more than 100 outlets including mini-marts, barbershops and car washes.
Sophisticated Criminal Enterprise
The network operates a thriving illicit jobs market for asylum seekers, promising substantial profits from selling contraband cigarettes and vapes. This provides a powerful incentive for illegal immigrants to travel to the UK, according to investigators.
The operation employs sophisticated scams including a system of 'ghost directors' - individuals paid to register businesses under their names while having no actual involvement. This enables shops to continue operating despite scrutiny from authorities.
One shopkeeper in Crewe, Cheshire - a failed Kurdish asylum seeker running a mini-mart - claimed illegal tobacco sales generated up to £3,000 weekly, potentially reaching £150,000 annually. He bragged about having customers as young as 12 and was among several traders found selling vapes to schoolchildren.
Network Spanning the Nation
The Daily Mail investigation uncovered a web of companies established by Kardos Mateen that control mini-marts operated by asylum seekers without work rights. Companies House records show he holds 20 directorships and claims to be a 37-year-old British citizen.
The businesses operate in deprived areas from Newcastle to Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, with most concentrated in northwest England and Yorkshire. The National Crime Agency has warned such fronts facilitate drug-trafficking, people-smuggling, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation.
Visits to 20 premises linked to Shaxawan's empire revealed most were staffed by men identifying as Kurdish, Iranian or Iraqi. Many spoke little English and claimed to be merely 'helping out', displaying limited knowledge about their trade or how the sparsely-stocked shops operated.
Inside the Shops
At The Spon Minimarket in Coventry, a reporter was offered 50 grams of Amber Leaf rolling tobacco for just £5 - compared to over £43 in supermarkets. The 21-year-old Iranian worker, Lasha, said he was an asylum seeker working there for a year.
Other locations visited included:
- Kidderminster Local in Worcestershire, staffed by a Turkish worker
- Del Boy's Shop in Nuneaton, operated by an Iraqi refugee
- Nova International Supermarket in Blackpool
- Oswaldtwistle Mini Mart in Lancashire
- Multiple locations in Huddersfield, Halifax and Hull
Workers' stories consistently featured limited awareness of ownership details and business operations.
Exploiting Vulnerable Workers
The network capitalises on asylum seekers facing lengthy application delays, recruiting from asylum seeker hotels. While some migrants are offered store management opportunities, others work 14-hour shifts for as little as £4 per hour.
Facebook groups brazenly advertise mini-marts for sale, while others feature Kurdish builders offering to construct hidden compartments to conceal contraband during police raids.
Undercover Revelations
In secretly filmed conversations, Shaxawan boasted to an undercover BBC reporter: 'We have customers in every city.' He explained how easily asylum seekers could take over shops and earn thousands weekly from illegal tobacco sales.
He detailed how he could establish companies, provide bank cards and payment terminals, and even claimed to work with someone who could 'erase immigration fines' for £3,500 - transferring liabilities to 'ghost names' like Hungarians who would 'take the risk'.
Operating from a Huddersfield solicitor's office, he connected reporters with a paralegal offering to 'make documents' including business agreements to avoid penalties.
Government Response
Following the revelations, the Home Office announced it would launch an investigation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated: 'Illegal working and linked organised criminality creates an incentive for people to come here illegally. We will not stand for it.'
The government has increased raids by 51% this year and raised fines for businesses to £60,000 per person found working illegally. HMRC estimates the illegal cigarette and vape trade costs the UK £2.2 billion annually in lost revenue.
When confronted by the BBC, Shaxawan categorically denied 'every allegation, insinuation and claim made'. The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle this sophisticated criminal network operating across Britain.
