Illegal Immigrants Found at Chinese Restaurant in Ely

Five illegal immigrants from Malaysian have been found working at the China Inn Chinese Restaurant in Ely

The UK Border Agency raided the China Inn restaurant in Market Square last Wednesday lunchtime and found the restaurant had been employing three illegal workers. They also found two more illegal immigrants hiding upstairs in the flat. Two of the men tried to run but were apprehended and checks later found them to be Malaysian aged 31 and 26 and to have overstayed their visas. The third was a woman waitress who was also found to have overstayed.

When the officers checked upstairs they found two further Malaysian visa overstayers, a 29-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man.

The enforcement operation was part of planned nationwide action by the UK Border Agency to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime.

All five were arrested and are being held in detention by the UK Border Agency detention while arrangements are made for their removal from the country.

The restaurant now faces substantial fines of up to £30,000 - unless it can show that it had correctly carried out pre-employment checks.

Photo: avlxyz