AN illegal immigrant has been deported after being caught working at an Indian restaurant in Clacton.

Immigration Enforcement officers, acting on intelligence, raided the Saffron Restaurant, in Ravensdale, and arrested four illegal workers.

Immigration checks found four men had overstayed their visas.

They were three Bangladeshi nationals, aged 26, 28 and 36, and a 21-year-old Afghan national.

The 26-year-old was detained and has been removed from the country.

The other three have been ordered to report to Immigration Enforcement regularly while their cases continue.

The business was served with a civil penalty referral notice in relation to four illegal workers.

The restaurant could face financial penalties of up to £20,000 per illegal worker unless the employer can prove that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office work permit.

Robert Tompkins, of the East of England Immigration Enforcement team, said: “Those who use and exploit illegal workers face severe financial penalties.

“We are happy to work with businesses in Essex to ensure the right pre-employment checks are carried out, but those intent on operating outside the law will be found and will be punished.

“Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities.”

Mr Tompkins added: “All of our operations are intelligence-led and I would encourage people with detailed and specific information about illegal immigration to contact us.”

The raid took place on February 16.

The Gazette was unable to contact the restaurant for comment.