Five arrested in Sandwell raid on suspicion of overstaying visas
Immigration officers have swooped on a pub and restaurant in Great Barr to arrest five men accused of overstaying their visas.
Officers made the arrests after visiting Special Spices, off Newton Road, and questioned staff and managers.
Two Indian men, aged 24 and 38, and three Nepalese men, one aged 18 and two 28-year-olds were arrested following a tip off.
Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers say all five were detained on January 8, and steps are being taken to remove them from the UK.
The business was served a notice warning that a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found could be imposed.
Claire Portlock, West Midlands Home Office Immigration Enforcement assistant director, said: "Illegal working cheats the treasury of vital funds, undercuts honest employers and often exploits some of society's most vulnerable people.
"When we receive information that employers are not playing by the rules we will take action and they could end up facing a heavy penalty.
"We rely on information from the public and I would urge people to report suspected illegal working to us."
