A Nantwich town centre shop was raided and two men arrested by Home Office immigration officials.
The raid happened at the 1st Stop Newsagents on the corner of Beam Street and Manor Road.
Two immigration offenders from India were caught during the operation after officers visited 1st Stop Newsagents, acting on intelligence that individuals with no right to be in the UK were working at the business.
Background checks on staff members revealed two men, aged 23 and 25, had overstayed their visas. Both men were arrested.
The 25-year-old remains in immigration detention and the 23-year-old has been released on immigration bail while his case is progressed. He will have to report regularly to the Home Office during this time.
Eyewitnesses report seeing several immigration officials in armoured clothing going in through the shop’s front entrance at about midday yesterday (July 9).
A number of other officers were seen covering the rear entrance in the car park at the back of the parade of shops.
One witness said: “The officers looked fully kitted up, it was a full on raid in broad daylight!”
1st Stop Newsagents has now been served with a notice warning that a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker arrested will be imposed unless proof is provided the correct right-to-work checks were carried out, such as seeing a Home Office document or passport.
This is a potential total penalty of £40,000.
Karen McDonough, head of the Cheshire Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said: “These arrests are a clear warning to those in Nantwich abusing our immigration laws.
“There will be no slowdown in our efforts to arrest, detain and remove you from the UK.
“Employers who use illegal labour are defrauding the taxpayer, undercutting genuine employers and denying legitimate job hunters work.
“We are happy to work with employers who want to play by the rules but those which continue to flout them will face heavy financial penalties.
“I would urge anyone with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”
Details of new illegal working measures can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tougher-penalties-to-combat-illegal-working
Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
” He will have to report regularly to the Home Office during this time.”
What a joke, if not legal DEPORT it isn’t that hard is it?!!