THREE illegal workers have been arrested following an immigration swoop on an Indian restaurant in Worcester.

Officers from the UK Border Agency raided Pasha, St John’s, on Tuesday evening, arresting two men.

A man was also arrested at Anaz takeaway, which is opposite the restaurant and owned by the same family.

Immigration checks revealed the two male members of staff at Pasha – a 32-year-old and a 30-year-old – and one employee at Anaz – a 42-year-old man – had no right to work.

All three were from Bangladesh and had entered the UK illegally.

The UK Border Agency is now working to remove the men from the country.

The outlets are owned by former city councillor Nurul Haque and managed by his son Sam.

If investigations reveal the necessary checks were not carried out by the business to ensure the workers were allowed to work in the UK they could face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker.

Sam Haque declined to comment when contacted by the Worcester News yesterday.

We previously reported how China City, Sidbury, was fined £25,000 after eight illegal workers, all Chinese nationals, were found in the kitchen on Tuesday, February 8.

Earlier this month, officers raided the Angel Chef in Angel Street and arrested a Malaysian national found to be working illegally.

A series of raids have also taken place recently at restaurants in Evesham and Hereford. Immigration officer Brian Maynard-Rollings, from the local immigration team for Warwickshire and West Mercia, said: “Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure their foreign staff are entitled to work in the UK. There are serious consequences for those who ignore this.

“Our enforcement visits are intelligence-led and we appeal to the public to let us know when they have information about suspected immigration offenders.”

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit ukba. homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or they can call the UK Border Agency’s employers helpline on 0300 1234699.

Anyone who suspects illegal workers are being employed at a business in Worcestershire can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.