The Reasons Our Team Went Covert to Reveal Criminal Activity in the Kurdish-origin Population

A pair of Kurdish men decided to go undercover to uncover a network behind illegal main street enterprises because the lawbreakers are causing harm the image of Kurds in the United Kingdom, they state.

The pair, who we are referring to as Ali and Saman, are Kurdish-origin journalists who have both lived lawfully in the United Kingdom for many years.

Investigators uncovered that a Kurdish criminal operation was running mini-marts, hair salons and vehicle cleaning services across the UK, and wanted to learn more about how it functioned and who was taking part.

Armed with hidden recording devices, Ali and Saman posed as Kurdish refugee applicants with no right to be employed, looking to acquire and run a mini-mart from which to sell illegal tobacco products and vapes.

The investigators were able to uncover how straightforward it is for an individual in these circumstances to start and operate a business on the High Street in public view. Those participating, we learned, pay Kurdish individuals who have UK residency to register the businesses in their names, enabling to mislead the officials.

Saman and Ali also were able to covertly document one of those at the core of the organization, who stated that he could eliminate government penalties of up to £60k encountered those employing unauthorized workers.

"Personally aimed to play a role in revealing these unlawful activities [...] to loudly proclaim that they don't represent us," explains one reporter, a former refugee applicant himself. The reporter came to the United Kingdom without authorization, having fled Kurdistan - a region that straddles the boundaries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not officially recognized as a nation - because his life was at danger.

The investigators admit that tensions over illegal migration are elevated in the United Kingdom and state they have both been concerned that the inquiry could intensify conflicts.

But the other reporter explains that the illegal employment "negatively affects the whole Kurdish-origin community" and he feels driven to "expose it [the criminal network] out into broad daylight".

Additionally, Ali says he was concerned the reporting could be seized upon by the extreme right.

He states this notably affected him when he discovered that far-right campaigner a prominent activist's Unite the Kingdom march was taking place in London on one of the Saturdays and Sundays he was operating covertly. Placards and flags could be seen at the rally, showing "we demand our country returned".

Both journalists have both been tracking online reaction to the exposé from within the Kurdish community and explain it has caused strong anger for certain individuals. One social media message they observed said: "How can we find and track [the undercover reporters] to harm them like dogs!"

A different urged their families in Kurdistan to be harmed.

They have also read allegations that they were spies for the British government, and betrayers to other Kurdish people. "Both of us are not spies, and we have no desire of harming the Kurdish community," one reporter explains. "Our goal is to uncover those who have harmed its image. We are proud of our Kurdish identity and extremely concerned about the behavior of such people."

Most of those seeking refugee status claim they are fleeing political oppression, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the Refugee Workers Cultural Association, a charity that helps refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

This was the case for our covert reporter Saman, who, when he initially came to the UK, experienced challenges for years. He explains he had to survive on less than twenty pounds a week while his refugee application was processed.

Asylum seekers now get about forty-nine pounds a per week - or nine pounds ninety-five if they are in shelter which includes food, according to Home Office regulations.

"Realistically stating, this isn't enough to maintain a dignified lifestyle," explains Mr Avicil from the the organization.

Because asylum seekers are generally prevented from working, he thinks many are vulnerable to being exploited and are effectively "compelled to work in the illegal market for as low as three pounds per hour".

A spokesperson for the authorities said: "The government do not apologize for refusing to grant refugee applicants the right to be employed - granting this would create an incentive for individuals to come to the UK illegally."

Asylum applications can require a long time to be resolved with nearly a third taking more than one year, according to official statistics from the end of March this year.

Saman explains being employed illegally in a vehicle cleaning service, hair salon or convenience store would have been quite easy to do, but he told the team he would not have done that.

However, he explains that those he encountered employed in illegal mini-marts during his work seemed "confused", especially those whose refugee application has been refused and who were in the legal challenge.

"They spent all their funds to travel to the UK, they had their asylum rejected and now they've lost their entire investment."

Ali acknowledges that these people seemed desperate.

"When [they] say you're not allowed to work - but additionally [you]