THE HOME OFFICE has confirmed that a tip-off led to a Moray Chinese Restaurant being raided by immigration officials last week.
The Golden Sea takeaway in Elgin’s Newmill Road was visited by officials on Friday acting on information received. As a result a 45-year-old man was found to be working illegally – and now steps are set to be taken that could see him being removed from the country.
In addition the restaurant owners could face fines of up to £20,000 if they fail to prove that they conducted sufficient checks to ensure their employees had the right to work in the UK.
“This is a clear warning to those in Scotland abusing our immigration laws,” a Home Office immigration official said, adding: “Employers who use illegal labour are defrauding the taxpayer, undercutting genuine employers and denying legitimate job seekers 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 penalties.”
The raid at the Elgin takeaway took place at 7pm on Friday when immigration officials assisted by police questioned staff in the building.
Raids by immigration officers are relatively rare in Moray – a restaurant in Buckie was visited in September 2013 when four Bangladeshi nationals were found to be working at the Bengal Brasserie having overstayed their visas. In May last year six illegal immigrants found their way to Moray concealed in a container lorry that had arrived at the Baxters Plant in Fochabers from the continent.
Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse are being asked to visit the Home Office online at http://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 55 51 11.