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Mapping Public Data Behind a BBC-Reported Organised Network

Written by Sham Ahmed | Nov 17, 2025 12:47:22 PM

When the BBC published its recent investigation into the structure of several convenience store businesses, it revealed how a purported network offered to set up companies and shops in the names of others to enable migrants to manage businesses while staying hidden from enforcement.

To understand the structure behind this, we reviewed the public records for a selection of shops mentioned in the BBC piece and mapped the information in Canvas. The aim wasn’t to investigate wrongdoing, but to see whether the same names, same addresses, or same company patterns appeared across multiple businesses, and whether those connections became clearer when visualised as a network.

During the review, three directors appeared repeatedly across a large number of companies. When plotted with their associated businesses, registered offices and PSC entries, a set of common data points emerged:

  • different companies registered at the same shop

  • similar companies located on the same streets

  • multiple entities sharing the same addresses

  • clusters of businesses connected indirectly through shared directors

These patterns show what becomes visible when public data is organised and viewed as a network. Here's what we found:

Multiple Companies Registered to the Same Retail Unit

One pattern that stood out immediately was the use of the same shop address by different companies, each registered under a different director.

Manchester – The Lock Building, M1 5BD

At Unit 2, Whitworth Street West, two active companies are registered:

  • CITY MINI MART LTD – Kardos Mateen

  • CITY CONVENIENCE STORE LTD – Bryar Zardar

Both companies list the same retail unit as their registered office. Public records don’t explain why; they simply show a co-location of two businesses operated by individuals who appear elsewhere in the network.

For OSINT analysts, shared registered addresses like this often serve as useful anchors when mapping wider business activity.

Similar Businesses Operating on the Same Street

Another repeated structure was near-identical company names registered at separate shops on the same street.

Hull – Southcoates Lane, HU9 3AB

Two companies, located only a few doors apart, show similar naming and sector themes:

  • DM DM MINI MARKET LTD – Kardos Mateen (No. 14)

  • DM DM 1 MARKET LTD – Bryar Zardar (No. 18)

Proximity alone does not imply any connection, but patterns like these illustrate how director networks may overlap geographically. When plotting this in Canvas, the shared post code visually reinforces their closeness.

Duplicate Use of a Single Shop Address

A third pattern was different companies registered to the same shop, but operated by different directors.

Hull – Orchard Park Road, HU6 9BX

At 216 Orchard Park Road, two separate limited companies are registered:

  • WISLA MINI MARKET LTD – Araz Melah

  • WISLA MINI MARKET 1 LIMITED – Bryar Zardar

Again, this is simply public information. The Companies House filings show two entities registered to what appears to be the same premises at the same time, which becomes more visible when examined through a link chart.

The Value of Visualising Public Records

What began as a simple attempt to explore Companies House data became a clear demonstration of how network analysis helps investigators make sense of otherwise scattered information.

The full Canvas chart highlights:

  • clusters of companies linked to directors of businesses linked to potential organised crime

  • director networks that intersect through addresses and PSC relationships

  • multiple officer records for the same individuals (a known Companies House limitation)

  • postcode-based clusters hinting at areas of concentrated activity

Taken together, the chart reveals patterns within the dataset.

A Look Ahead: Identity Verification Will Clean Up These Networks

One recurring challenge during this review was the number of duplicate officer profiles for the same individuals. The directors we mapped hadmultiple director entities in Companies House.

The new identity verification processes should reduce this fragmentation dramatically. Once verification is fully implemented, we should see:

  • fewer duplicate officer records

  • consolidated director histories

  • greater confidence in the accuracy of appointed individuals

For investigators, that means more reliable network analysis and a more complete picture of director activity.

Closing Thoughts

This exercise was about what public data can show when you take the time to map it.

The overlaps between addresses, naming conventions, proximity, and repeated directorships are all visible because the UK maintains transparent corporate records. When visualised properly, these signals help investigators, journalists, compliance teams, and analysts understand how different pieces of information fit together.

As identity verification reforms roll out, networks like the one explored here will become even clearer, and the ability to connect entities across public datasets will only improve.

 

Appendix: Companies House Sources Consulted

All records used for this analysis were retrieved from publicly available Companies House officer and company pages. Data was accessed on the dates listed within the BBC article’s publication period.

Companies

Director / PSC Officer Pages

Kardos Mateen

Bryar Mohammed Zardar

Araz Melah
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