An illegal worker has been arrested following a raid on a Chepstow restaurant last Thursday (2nd May).

Three others were arrested in raids on shops in Abergavenny and Croesyceiliog earlier in the day.

Acting on intelligence, Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited Mughal Spice in Nelson Street at around 7pm on Thursday, where they carried out checks on staff.

A 29-year-old Pakistani man was arrested after he was found to be working in breach of his student visa.

The man, who was employed in the restaurant's kitchen, was taken to Cardiff Bay police station for further questioning.

Mughal Spice owner Jalal Khan said he had been unaware the amount of hours the man was allowed to work had changed from 20 a week to 10.

"The employee didn't let me know and nobody came to us to tell us. I am supposed to have checked," said Mr Khan.

"He had worked part-time for me for a while and is a really nice guy – one of my best members of staff. Continued on Page 2

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"We checked his passport and visa when we took him on and he was allowed to work 20 hours a week, which is normal for students.

"At some point his situation must have changed but I wasn't made aware of it."

Mr Khan said he would be carrying out more regular checks on any members of his staff working on a visa.

Earlier the same day, raids were carried out at Premier Stores, Cross Street, Abergavenny, where two illegal workers from Pakistan were arrested and at Premier Croesy Stores, Edlogan Square, Croesyceiliog, where another illegal worker from Pakistan was arrested.

The Home Office is now working to remove all four immigration offenders from the UK.

Bosses at the three businesses will now have to provide proof to the Home Office that the correct right-to-work checks were carried out on the men or face penalties of up to £10,000 per illegal worker.

Lisa Hogan, from the Home Office's South Wales Immigration Enforcement Team, said: "Our officers are out every week carrying out these kinds of operations.

"There is no hiding place for offenders and we will seek to remove anyone who we find to be in the UK illegally.

"We want members of the public with information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch."

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/">http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration crime in Wales can contact http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime/">http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime/ or call 029 2092 4727.