By Venkata Vemuri, IANS,
Leicester : In one of the biggest arrests of illegal immigrants in recent times, 12 Indians, including a woman, were arrested during raids by the UK Border Agency at two factory premises here.
Ten have since been released on bail, while the remaining two are still in custody. Officials searched their houses in the city to find identity documents to use as evidence to send them back to India.
The officials raided Rewalk Clothing and Sanjiri Mouldings, both in Linden Street in the Spinney HIlls are of Leicester last week, according to a release. They questioned 31 people and checked their identity documents. Twelve of them were caught.
Under rules, each business could be fined up to 10,000 pounds per illegal worker if the owners fail to prove they carried out proper checks before employing the illegal workers. Going by the rule, the two businesses are looking at a combined fine of 120,000 pounds.
The owners told the officials they had no idea that the workers were living illegally in the country.
Phil Dyerm of the border agency said: “We expect foreign nationals to play by the rules or we will take swift action.”
(Venkata Vemuri can be contacted at [email protected])