‘Dodgy’ shops handling criminal cash targeted by new specialist unit

Up to a third of US candy stores in some areas are suspected of being a front for criminal activity. Photograph: Eleventh Hour Photography/Alamy

“Dodgy” retail outlets such as vape stores, barbers, mini-marts and sweet shops suspected of being used to launder £1bn of criminal money will be targeted by a new specialist unit, the government has said.

A £20m National Crime Agency cell will run and coordinate investigations and raids into UK businesses suspected of acting as fronts for gangsters, the Home Office said.