RESTAURANT bosses have been landed with fines for thousands of pounds after bogus workers were arrested during immigration raids at two Northumberland restaurants.
UK Border Agency officers targeted the Masala Tandoori, on Laburnum Terrace, Ashington, and the Asmara, on Freehold Street, Blyth, during a coordinated operation.
They arrested four men who are now facing deportation.
Three Bangladeshi men, aged 30, 37 and 40 were arrested at the Masala Tandoori and another Bangladeshi man, aged 27, was arrested at Asmara. None of those quizzed by officers were legally entitled to work in the UK.
A further Bangladeshi man, 38, was dismissed from employment at the Asmara.
The restaurants were issued with civil penalty notices of up to £10,000 per illegal worker, a potential total of £30,000 for the Masala Tandoori and £20,000 for the Asmara.
Wallace Wilson, manager of the UK Border Agency Northumbria Local Immigration Team, said: “These arrests come just days after five men were arrested on suspicion of illegal working in County Durham.
“Our message to employers who use illegal labour is clear: wherever you are in the region, we will find you and you will face stiff penalties. The UK Border Agency has the resources to continue its clamp down on illegal workers. We use intelligence from the public, and welcome genuine and detailed information about suspected illegal working.
“Illegal working is not victimless. It undercuts honest traders, defrauds the public purse and takes advantage of some of society’s most vulnerable people.”
Both restaurants now have 30 days to show they carried out proper checks on their workers or face the financial penalty.
Last week a takeaway in Peterlee, County Durham, was targeted by UKBA officers.
They arrested three Indian men and two Pakistani men who did not have permission to work in the UK at the Golden Fry in Cotsford Lane.
Three are in immigration detention pending removal from the UK, while further inquiries are being carried out into the status of the other two.
The takeaway was issued with a civil penalty notice of up to £10,000 per illegal worker, a potential total of £50,000.
