Immigration officers arrest three workers

And the two businesses where the men were caught working illegally now face hefty fines.

Immigration enforcement officers arrested the men after carrying out illegal working operations on the Fylde coast.

Acting on intelligence, officers first visited the Red Chilli takeaway on Crescent East, Cleveleys.

They questioned staff to establish whether they had the right to live and work in the UK and arrested a 34-year-old Bangladeshi man for overstaying his visa.

Officers then visited Chilli Balti, North Albert Street, Fleetwood, and arrested two Bangladeshi men, aged 31 and 39.

Both men had overstayed their visas.

Officers said none of the arrested men had the right to work in the UK.

All three were transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the UK.

Both businesses were served notices warning that financial penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker arrested will 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.

Karen McDonough, from the Lancashire Immigration Enforcement team, said: “The message to businesses in Blackpool using illegal labour is clear.

“Our dedicated, specialist teams will catch you and if the correct checks have not been carried out you will pay the penalty.

“Illegal working cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and often exploits some of society’s most vulnerable people.

“We rely on information from the public and I would urge people to report suspected immigration abuse to us.”