AN INDIAN takeaway in Andover could be fined up to £60,000 after immigration enforcement officers swooped to arrest three illegal workers.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited Andover Tandoori, King Arthurs Way, at about 5.45pm on Thursday.

The business will be served with a civil penalty referral notice in relation to three illegal workers who were arrested.

The notice warns that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found could be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

If proof is not provided, this is a potential total of up to £60,000.

Matthew Wilkinson, from the South Central Immigration Enforcement team, said: “Our teams of immigration officers carry out regular operations and any businesses which use and exploit illegal workers face severe financial penalties.

“Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities. 

“All of our operations are intelligence led and I would encourage people with detailed and specific information about illegal immigration to contact us.”

Immigration checks found three Bangladeshi men to be working illegally.

A 26-year-old had entered the UK illegally while the other two men, aged 32 and 39, had overstayed their visas.

The 32-year-old was released but ordered to report to Immigration Enforcement regularly while steps are taken to remove him.

The remaining men were transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the UK.

The Advertiser has approached Andover Tandoori for comment.

It posted on its Facebook page yesterday: "Andover Tandoori is trading as usual, routine checks from authorities are common nowadays, and we gave full cooperation."

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Information to help employers carry out checks to prevent illegal working can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employers-illegal-working-penalties