FOUR illegal Bangladeshi workers were arrested while working in an Indian restaurant.

Acting on intelligence, Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited Bhindi's, in Lewes Road, Brighton, at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.

They arrested four men: three, aged 23, 28 and 37, had overstayed their visas, while a 34-year-old had entered the country illegally.Staff were questioned to find out whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

One onlooker said: “All the staff were outside - it looked like a police raid.”

All the men were transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the UK, apart from the man aged 34 - he has been ordered to report to the Home Office regularly while his case is progressed.

The business was served with a notice warning that a financial penalty 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.

If proof is not provided, this is a potential total of up to £80,000.

Richard Lederle, head of the Kent and Sussex Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said: “There will be no slowdown in our efforts to arrest, detain and remove people with no right to be in the UK.

“Employers in Sussex who use illegal labour are defrauding the taxpayer, undercutting genuine employers and denying work to legitimate job hunters.

“We are happy to work with employers who want to play by the rules but those who break the law will face the consequences.

“I would urge people with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse to contact us.”

Bhindi's decided not to comment on the situation after being contacted by The Argus.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.