Counterfeit Medicine Ring Busted in Global Op

Two Lubavitchers were arrested in London’s Stamford Hill neighborhood in connection with a global law enforcement operation targeting a ring peddling counterfeit medicine.

Bais Moshiach, a non-official Lubavitch Center in London’s Stamford Hill neighborhood, was raided this evening by UK police and Interpol agents. The director of the center along with his son were arrested on charges of money laundering.

The charges stem from a lengthy investigation and crackdown on unlicensed online pharmaceutical companies by police departments in the UK, France and Spain. The center is alleged to have laundered money on behalf of these illegal companies.

Following the arrests, large caches of potential evidence, including 30,000 GBP in cash, file cabinets, computers, hard drives and other effects, were hauled out of the center by investigators.

Another suspect wanted by police in connection with the case is believed to have fled to Israel.

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56 Comments

  • ma hakesher

    what connection do these pictures have with this article? who is the person in the police uniform? please explain

  • yael

    why would supposedly frum forum publicize another persons problems?

    How would feel if this was you? or your parent? or sibling?

    Further more none of this has as yet been proven

    Shame on you

    • Steven

      First it’s not as you euphemistically write ‘someone’s problems’ like smelly socks, it’s a very serious alleged crime with severe consequences. Sweeping it under the carpet by not talking about it only encourages others to do these crimes, same with paedophilia. There are two disincentives for doing bad, jail and the embarrassment when caught, which is when we talk about it. It’s also an effective way to educate people that it is not ok to steal, fraud, bribe and molest others, as some insulated people have mamish no idea how serious the crime is. So, thanks for posting the sorry.

    • I smell mosering

      When someone doesn’t like meshichist mosdos in CH, they have been known to get these mosdos’s buildings shut down at least temporarily, by alleging to the government authorities that there are violation of various government regulations–valid, significant, worth investigating, or not.

      How on earth would the authorities have otherwise been given the thought of going after these two people? I hate to say it, but I’ll bet there’s a greater than 50 percent chance that another frummer Yid or two were instrumental in bringing these two arrested Yidden to the attention of the authorities.

      Please Hashem the arrested father and son truly didn’t do anything illegal (or were innocent participants in something for which they didn’t know that what was going on was so alarmingly illegal). But regardless, C”V. the tattletales had better have gotten a genuine (not merely political) heter from their Rov!

    • Milhouse

      “I smell mosering” asks How on earth would the authorities have otherwise been given the thought of going after these two people?

      This was an international investigation into an entire ring. Interpol was involved. A local mesirah is the least logical explanation for that! If Interpol raided this tiny shtibble (that has trouble making a minyan), it’s because its receipts, for large donations, were found in the possession of some member of the conspiracy.

      They might still be innocent — perhaps the criminal who had the receipts was simply giving tzedaka, with no expectation of a kickback. But this was no mesirah.

  • oy

    I’m a big anti but I find all the giggling in the pics very disturbing. Laughing away someone’s tzaros is horrible.

  • Sruly Clapman.

    Innocent until proven guilty.

    Second, I personally know him and his son, and they are the sweetest and most kindest people.

    3. When you say the center is not affiliated with Chabad please explain? he’s a Lubavitcher Chosid, he does Chitas Rambam wear Rabaynu Tams Tefilin and does everything in his center that the Rebbe encourages. The Sicha from the Rebbe to the Shlucim in 1992 printed in every Sefer Hasichos says the ONLY mission for us to focus is the Inyan of being Mefarsem Moshiach to the ENTIRE world.

    That he’s a Shliach of the Rebbe is a obvious!!!!!!

    • WHAT??

      A criminal is a shliach of the Rebbe? So he does Chitas every day? Are you really so naive?

      Please let me know where the Rebbe says as long as a person puts on RT & says Chitas it is OK to potentially harm people by laundering cash in a fake medication scam. THAT is a chosid? No wonder Chabad is in such trouble.

    • WHAT??

      And another thing, innocent until proven guilty is correct, but these charges are REALLY serious. They don’t randomly arrest people on a whim for these crimes, they do their homework & often, it takes years. You should do yours.

    • Milhouse

      Laundering money is a crime, but it’s not an aveira. Many very choshuveh rabbonim do it, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But recently it’s become a lot more dangerous than it used to be. A lot of people are being caught, and wise people are learning from other people’s misfortune instead of from their own.

    • Steven

      Milhouse Are you serious “Laundering money is a crime, but it’s not an aveira”?? If it’s a crime then it’s an aveira. And becomes an enormous Chillul Hashem when the newspapers report that a “Rabbi” has been sent to jail for 5 years. As I said above some people have mamish no idea. You are actually condoning and encouraging others to break the law and risk going to jail.

  • Oy vey!

    They are tzaddikim mamosh! Probably some low life took advantage of their innocence and conned them into doing something that has now got them in trouble! Oy gevalt! Shluchai kodesh! Be on guard! Sadly there are some very not good people out there who may try to involve you in their scams ch”v!!! Always, always talk with your accountant and rav and never compromise, no matter how hard, never compromise your integrity!!! May we all be delivered meetzoroh leervochoh soon!

  • Nancy

    Why should they not publish this. If they did this they deserve what they get. Religious Hippocrates praying to God and living a life of scandle. Do not think G-d approves this?

  • to SRULY CLAPMAN.

    The article clearly states that these are charges, so stop complaining about innocent till proven guilty. Secondly, I find it interesting how you right away start attesting to how kind and sweet these people are. Kind and sweet people are also capable of stealing. Thirdly, the mission of spreading Moshiach to the world is skewed by many Moshiach centers because they focus on spreading that THE REBBE is Moshiach. That is not the Rebbe’s directive and thereby disqualifies them from being a real Lubavitch center.

  • To #14

    I can’t believe your such a fool to think that because the Feds claim they have a case therefore I’m not automatically innocent?!? Juts look at the what they put against Sholom Rubashkin.

    Second, only all you losers are so scared to tell people that you feel the Rebbe is Moshicah, you think a Fray person putting on Tefilin cares that we feel our Rebbe is Moshiach. We made it into a scary topic, the Rebbe spoke about Moshiach day and night for 50 years and the average Shlicah is scared to say the word.
    The rebbe encouraged Yechi, the Rebbe said about himself that he’s a FANATIC ABOUT MOSHIACH.

    • Just say Yechi

      You need to stop drinking the Kool Aid & start living in the real world. Is being frum about being an honest, G-d fearing person, or about proclaiming the Rebbe as Moshiach?

    • to 17

      the difference between a fed arrest at the ones you are used to is that police arrest as soon as possible to attempt to close a case. sometimes they will arrest a few for the same crime just in hopes to get the right one.
      the feds have all the time and money in the world. when they make an arrest, it means a lot of time was spent building the case. sometimes they wait even longer if they think they can get a bigger fish. or if it will be a high profile case.
      this will only end in good news for them if it gets thrown out on technicality or the right political connection.
      as far as Rubashkin goes, The problem is that he was given a raw deal, had the book thrown at him, the max, etc. (not the right political connection and no technical errors) i don’t believe anyone in their right mind thinks he was/is innocent.

    • CHLEAKS.COM

      Are you operating a money laundering organization, it sure sound like it?

      What is the big surprise here.
      A group of people, “meshichistim”, who always justify Mesira, acts of violence and theft in the name of spreading “the good word”, are actually bused for their crimes. Whoopi -do.

      They should investigate Mendel Hendel for all the money laundering he does.

  • if its true

    if its true, don’t feel bad for them. feel bad for the people paying for medicine thinking it would heal them when they were really buying garbage.

  • Check Mezuzos and Teffillen ASAP

    To #15

    The rule “Innocent until proven guilty” remains!

    Proven guilty is in a court of law, not by the police!

    Even if they arrest someone the rule remains “Innocent until proven guilty”!

    I am shocked by the tone of your comment, almost rejoicing in the downfall ch”v of another Jew R”L bordering on character assassination and defamation!

    May I please remind you:
    בנפול אויבך אל תשמח” וכו’ פרקי אבות

    Also, anyone who is really “squeaky clean” would be horrified to hear of the pain of another Jew and would be saying Tehilim for him!

    Besides your comment showing a thing or two about your own unrefined character traits (See Maamer Hecholtzu and maamer at end of Sefer “Amar Reish Mesivta Degan Eiden)) I would just remind you that “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones” VEDA”L!!!

    Having said all the above, Yidden zogt Tehilim!! Heileker Temimim oon Chassidim foon Rebbin zitzen een Tefissa, zicher gevees because of a bilbul doh lemata oon a “Bilbul” kivyochol due to “Shchinta Begalusa” Lemala R”L!!!

    Please dear ANASH SHLIT”A, see what a terrible Chilul Hashem has been caused, certainly not intentionally, and with all good intentions, the Rebbe’s inyonim and campaigns have certainly been dealt a setback due to the terrible bashmitzung that has happened, including Mivtza Moshiach r”l!!!

    PLEASE be very careful not to do anything “gray” or borderline kosher no matter what!

    “Nososa venosata be-emuna” is not just a cliché, it’s the first thing you are asked after 120!!!

    The Rebbe always encouraged doing EVERYTHING LEGAL, even changing currency must be done in a legal way, using an accountant and of course “Aseh Lecho Rav”!!!!

    Especially in this dark period of Helem vehester the rules and the Rebbe’s guidelines MUST be kept now more than ever!

    Vinizkeh zehn zich mitn Rebbin, Neshomoh Beguf doh lemata Vehu Yigalainu, Now Mamosh! Amain!

  • what was the purpose

    Yes, what they did was wrong, but what was the purpose of informing the public.

    Is that not Loshon Horah and we are in the month of Elul!!!!!!!!!

  • BH

    Great what you are doing, until when chabadniks will cover their butts every time they do something wrong. I am fed up of this Lunsford mentality who is dewteoyi g the Rebbe’s vision.

    Whoever does a crime shall pay full price. NO MERCY!

  • To # 8

    The Facts: The arrest was only a questioning by local police station. Both individuals were released hours later.
    NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST EITHER. IT IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

  • To Sruly

    Sruly, as you do not live here, you do not know the real truth, the history behind this place, be careful of what you say!!!
    This place called “Bais Moshiach” was opened on machlokis! The people running it had disagreements with other people in the community – over money and has caused great tension in the community, what is written here does not surprise me, but yes as a Lubavitcher, it does hurt! I try to write this as nicely as possible without overly slandering the people involved.
    The people involved in “Bais Moshiach” are ordinary working people, with or without smicha, in NO WAY are they shluchim of the Rebbe!!! It is not right to consider them as such because they run this place.

    A Lubavitcher resident living in Stamford Hill

    • another stamford hill resident

      Right because the work of the official Shluchim here is just way more! Ask any non-lubav in the street which Shul they feel more comfortable in! Most will reply in Beis Moshiach. Unfortunate Lubavitch is not really a friendly or open place to outsiders and Beis Moshiach is! Thats the facts, And B’poel they do way more Hafotzoh than Lubavitch House have ever dreamed of!

      signed a resident who isnt a friend or even a member of the Beis Moshaich Shul but who sees the facts.

  • Stamford hill

    I suppose he will suspended from teaching in the lubavitch boys school until a thorough investigation is carried out? or will they just cover up and continue to allow him to teach our children ???!!!

    • Milhouse

      Why should he be suspended from teaching? Even if he’s guilty, what’s the avla? How does it disqualfy him from teaching? Our zeides in Russia also dealt in shvartz, and nobody thought less of them for it.

    • Stamford hill

      to Milhouse #35 – We try to teach our kids to keep the law not brake it. A teacher is a role model and in this case obviously NOT so yes he should go. there are always consequences of your actions and he should of thought of that before.

    • Anonymous

      See UK laws of these matters.
      See “CRB” requirements and exclusions for more information.
      now that the school is a “VAS” school, the local education authority will be involved, and he can only teach if he is legally allowed to.
      There is no playing around like in the “shtetel”

  • mendy

    bh
    bsd

    this why we are sometimes hated by our own…it is us lubavitchers that represent the great future we will have…we have to always think speak and do what we represent…the rebbe and what he wanted for us and the world….we have to constantly climb out of the klipa human condition and think speak and do what chassidus teaches

  • to sruly clapman

    Shliach meanse emissary or messanger.

    there is only one way to become someones emissary = that is if the sender sends a person to do for him a mission.

    if i go and decide im doing your work, i ( may b a good person but )am NOT your emissary, simply because i wasn’t sent!

    so to in this case, he may be doing the rebbes work (we”ll have to think bout that) but “Shliach”?????
    he wasn”t sent!! even b4 mishechisim he was NEVER A SHLIACH!. and is not a Shliach.

    and now for the 2nd point: “doing the rebbes work” ye?

    the rebbe sent rabbi sudak a”h to be the head shliach in england, be in charge of lubavitch activities, this man gets up makes a loony center a few blocks away from lubavitch with the name chabad, without permission – and with explicit no permission from rabbi sudak. and you call that “doing the rebbes work”?????????????????????????????????????

    hence “unaffiliated with chabad” was the most appropriate title.

  • to 17

    ill give you the benifit ot the doubt, that you didnt open up the sichos:

    the rebbe kocht in being mefarsem that moshiach is coming

    NOT that he is moshiach and spoke clearly against that! parshas breishis mem hay, parshas noach nun beis.

    theese looneys made chabad look crazy. and they are responsible for the fact that many shluchim are afraid of mentioning moshiach.

  • ofof

    #14:
    you say that the Rebbe said about himself that he’s a fanatic about Moshiach, however somehow the Rebbe is different from us. By us we always seem like we’re coming off as missionaries and then we don’t attract the people we want to come to learn about it.

  • True

    Tzoros, this is self inflicted, this should and must
    Be publicised to show others u can’t get away
    With this.
    Innocent till proven guilty, that dependes On who it is

  • #7

    he is a chossid and a shliach. maybe he did make some mistakes. but nobody is perfect. just because hes in trouble does not mean you can dump him and say hes not a shliach. we have to do all we can to support him and his family. there is a concept innocent until proven guilty or does that work only if it was YOU in such a situation r’l. he was arrested and charged but we don’t know the full story. there’s obviously more going on than what appears on the surface.

  • yoel moshe

    Agree with # 27 its elul & the king is in the field, this is total Loshan Hara. Its wrong all year but in the month of elul ?

  • just me

    He is not a shaliach of our rebbe period end of story.

    Only fools keep proclaiming the rebbe wanted and INSISTED he be named and plugged as moshiach.
    Shame on all of you that have it all so backwards.

    You still have no clue how much damage this has all done…yes I know you can show me all the segulos and merforshim from today to tomorrow – will make no difference on the real chabad dynasty

    And this story is relevant and appropriate – good someone has the —— to say it like it is.

  • Sruly Clapman : to the above

    I nor anyone needs anyones permission to open a Jewish center. Now being that I’m a Lubavitcher, when I run or operate a Shul it’s obviously not a faction of Mir Yeshiva, nor is it a branch of Ger or Bobov, just because his beliefs of the Rebbe and his way of Hafatza are not identical to yours does not make him not a ” Chabad center “!

    This hate mongering is what caused the 24,000 Talmiday Rabbi Akiva to die. Cause you think that if his ways are not identical to Sudaks it’s bad!!!!!

    Do you guys realize that being that Shluchim are so scared of letting Chabad guys open Shuls in the area to dominate control, Misnagdim end up being the competition. I can mention many examples but it’s Elul so I will hold off.

    • Milhouse

      You can open whatever you like, but if you’re not a shliach then it’s not a Chabad center. Chabad is not responsible for you, or for whatever you do there. And if you’re ch”v arrested for something, it’s not a reflection on Chabad or the Rebbe.

  • Torah

    Definition of Lashon Hara: Negative Comments, Whether True or False

    It is forbidden to speak disparagingly of one’s “chaveir” (lit. friend–we will discuss who this technically includes later). Even if the information is entirely truthful, it is called Lashon Hara. If the information also contains any fabrication, it is also called motzi shem ra (lit. putting out a bad name). The speaker of Lashon Hara violates the prohibition of “Lo telech rachil b’ameicha (Lev. 19:16).”

    CrownHeights.info staff: Do not compromise on Halochoh for readership.

    • Steven

      So if a pedophile is released from jail after ten years would you warn parents with small kids of his history our is that Loshon Hora?

  • stargazer

    Don’t judge until you know all the details. I was once asked to take someone’s hat box as part of my luggage, because he had too much luggage. I refused since I didn’t see him pack it and didn’t know if it had drugs in it. We’ve seen many innocent people arrested when doing a favor for someone, in such cases, because they unknowingly had drugs in the packages they were asked to transport.
    One person escaped to Israel. Who knows what he left behind in this Bais Moshiach in London. The 2 Lubavitchers could have innocently held his “package” temporarily. It could’ve happened to me when a total stranger asked me to have a package mailed to me from Israel, “for a relative” who would pick it up later. Con artists etc know their job well and know whom to target.
    Be melamed zchus and judge favorably, especially in Elul, and Hashem will judge you favorably too.

  • United Kingdom

    Firstly the father is an accountant, so whoever wrote he needs a good accountant….
    Secondly the son, a teacher cannot work in any school or near any children, until the case goes to court and he is found innocent, if he is. All people who work around children whether a bus driver, cleaner must have a CRB check. This is a criminal record check. As the case is ongoing I believe he cannot be hired to work in a building where there are children present.

  • TO NUMBER 55

    You are so ignorant about this whole case. There has been no charge on the son, so he is fine to work in any school or anywhere until such time that they could find a grounds to charge him.
    Meanwhile I just wonder what everyone will do when the article is published that his son was totally innocent. Is everyone who has badmouthed him going to beg for forgiveness.
    Just remember that the way you judge others is the way G-D judges you.
    Mark my words, this guy is innocent it is just a matter of time until this comes clear.