An Angus takeaway is at the centre of a “dirty cash” and illegal worker inquiry following a dramatic immigration swoop.
Three Chinese men were found to be working illegally and more than £25,000 in cash was found during the raid in Arbroath.
The owners of Harbour City in the town’s East Grimsby refused to comment on what is the latest in a series of immigration raids across the county.
The takeaway remained open last night but it could be hit with a £30,000 fine unless it can show that pre-employment checks were carried out before hiring the workers.
Assistant director Adam Scarcliffe, from the Home Office’s Scotland Immigration Enforcement Team, said: “The message for anyone living and working in Scotland illegally is clear it doesn’t matter where you are, we will track you down and remove you from the country.
“We are happy to work with businesses to let them know what checks need to be made on staff but those who break the law should know that they will face heavy fines.”
Acting on intelligence, officers along with police visited Harbour City and checks revealed that three Chinese men aged 25, 38 and 51 had no right to work in the UK. They were arrested and have all been detained, pending their removal from the country.
A large sum of cash found in a bin concealed beneath rubbish was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The business will now be served with a civil penalty notice for employing the illegal workers.
Chief Inspector Gordon Milne said further lines of inquiry were still being pursued by the police.
He said: “Cash in excess of £25,000 was discovered during the inquiry, which was seized and is currently under investigation. It was a successful operation, working in partnership with the Home Office.”
The Courier approached the owner at the takeaway but he would not comment on the immigration raid or the five-figure sum. He took our details and said he would get someone with better English to call later and explain what had happened.
We were called shortly afterwards and told the owner would be making no comment and the Chinese caller refused to answer further questions.
Since February there have been a series of high-profile immigration raids across Angus.
Three businesses and a number of homes in Kirriemuir, Monifieth and Forfar were raided by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and police in February. Immigration officers swooped on two eateries named the Bengal, in Monifieth and Forfar, and the Swan in Kirriemuir.
As a result, 16 men from Bangladesh were detained.
Police and UKBA staff raided a Chinese restaurant in Montrose in April after a tip-off. Further investigation of the Peking Palace revealed that three people were in the UK illegally.
Last night North East MSP Alex Johnstone said: “The UK welcomes skilled workers from all over the world, who play an important role in our local and national economy. It is important, however, that appropriate procedures are followed and the correct documentation is applied for.”