UK immigration enforcement officials detained eleven men and one woman, all of Indian nationality, for breaching their visa conditions and engaging in illegal employment. The arrests followed raids on a bedding and mattress factory and a cake factory.

The UK Home Office issued a statement announcing that Immigration Enforcement officers had raided a bedding and mattress business in the West Midlands region of Britain due to ongoing illegal employment activities being conducted on the premises.

The Home Office reported that seven men, all believed to be Indian nationals, were arrested from the location on suspicion of engaging in illegal employment.

Later, authorities arrested four additional Indian men at a nearby cake factory on suspicion of violating their visa conditions. One of them was found to be working illegally. Subsequently, an Indian woman was arrested for immigration offences at a private residence.

The officials stated that four of the individuals detained were being held pending review for potential removal from the UK or deportation to India.

The remaining eight individuals were granted bail on the condition that they report regularly to the Home Office. The two businesses under investigation could potentially incur substantial fines if it is determined that they failed to conduct pre-employment checks or employed workers illegally.

"This operation exemplifies our intensified immigration enforcement efforts nationwide," stated Michael Tomlinson, UK Minister for Countering Illegal Migration.

He added, "Employers discovered violating the regulations can anticipate substantially heightened fines. Additionally, if individuals are found to lack the right to reside or work here, we will promptly take action to remove them from the country."

In February, the Home Office substantially increased fines by threefold for employers who permitted illegal migrants to work for them.

Eddy Montgomery, the Director of Enforcement, Compliance, and Crime at the Home Office, stated, "Illegal working significantly harms communities, puts vulnerable individuals at risk, and defrauds public funds."

He added, "The arrests serve as a clear signal that we are cracking down on this perilous practice. People smugglers deceive migrants into believing they can work in the UK. However, the reality is starkly different, and those caught working illegally or facilitating such crimes will face severe legal consequences."

Image source: India Today