Illegal immigrants nabbed in Newcastle Chinese restaurant

Sep 11 2011 by Helen Rae, Sunday Sun

IMMIGRATION officers have arrested staff at a North restaurant in their latest crackdown on illegal workers.

Bosses at the famous food outlet now face a fine of up to £40,000 following the raids.

Four illegal immigrants were discovered working at Mangos, Stowell Street, in Newcastle’s well known China Town, after the UK Border Agency swooped in on the premises on Friday night.

Acting on intelligence reports, specially trained officers from the agency spoke to staff in the restaurant to establish their right to work in the UK.

Two Malaysian men, aged 30 and 35, a Chinese man, aged 52, and a Chinese woman, age unknown, were arrested. They were all working as part of the restaurant’s kitchen staff.

Inquiries are now continuing to establish whether the four have the right to be in the UK.

Wallace Wilson, manager of the UK Border Agency Northumbria Local Immigration Team, said: “The message to any business that chooses to employ illegal labour is clear - the UK Border Agency will find you and we will take the strongest possible action.

“Immigration crime is not victimless. It preys on vulnerable people and defrauds the taxpayer out of huge sums of money at a time when the country can least afford it.

“It also undercuts those businesses that play by the rules and ply an honest trade. We would encourage anyone with genuine information about suspected illegal working to get in touch.”