FOUR illegal workers from Bangladesh were arrested in raids on two Newport curry houses, the UK Border Agency said last night. Immigration officers carried out operations on Friday at the Dilshad restaurant in Clarence Place, Newport, and the Bagan Tandoori, in Cross Street, Caerleon.
A team raided Dilshad, in Clarence Place, Newport, at 6pm and checked the documents of staff. advertisement Two Bangladeshi men aged 38 and 27 were found to be employed at the restaurant despite having no right to work in the UK, the agency said. They were arrested by officers and taken to Newport Central police station for further questioning. Steps are being taken to remove the 27-year-old from the UK as soon as possible, while inquiries are continuing into the immigration status of the 38-year-old man.
Dilshad was served with two notices of potential liability - one for each of the illegal workers found on their premises. The owners have 28 days to provide the UK Border Agency with evidence that the correct right-to-work checks were carried or face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker.
The agency team raided Bagan Tandoori, in Cross Street, Caerleon, at about 8pm, and they said officers found two more men working illegally. The men, both from Bangladesh and aged 38 and 31, were arrested and taken to Newport Central police station. Steps are being taken to remove both men from the UK as soon as possible.
Civil penalties for business owners who fail to carry out the proper checks when employing migrant workers from outside Europe were introduced by the Government on February 29. Jane Farleigh, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in Wales and the South West said: "The majority of employers are law-abiding, but to tackle those who fail to carry out the necessary right-to-work checks we've introduced fines of up to £10,000 per illegal worker." Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Wales can contact the agency on 029 2092 4727.