Five arrested in immigration raid (From The Northern Echo)

Five arrested in immigration raid

4:56pm Tuesday 14th February 2012 in Peterlee News

FIVE men have been arrested after a takeaway was raided for the second time in a matter of months.

Officers from the UK Border Agency carried out a raid on the Golden Fry takeaway, in Cotsford Lane, in Peterlee on Friday night.

Three Indian men and two Pakistani men who did not have permission to work in the UK were arrested.

Three of the men remain in immigration detention pending removal from the UK, while further enquiries are being carried out into the immigration status of the other two.

The Agency said that the takeaway was also facing "a heavy financial penalty" of anything up to £50,000 after being caught employing illegal workers.

In December, Agency officers raised the same premises and arrested four Indian men on suspicion of illegal working.

Wallace Wilson, manager of the UK Border Agency Northumbria Local Immigration Team, said: "Our message to businesses that chose to use illegal labour is clear - we will find you and we will take the strongest possible action.

"The UK Border Agency is determined to stamp out the problem of illegal working.

"Immigration crime places huge strain on the public purse and exploits vulnerable individuals".