Illegal worker detained after Border Agency raid at Wahaca restaurant in Bluewater.

A 26-year-old Indian man was arrested and detained after failing to leave the UK after his visa expired after officers checked staff at Mexican restaurant Wahaca on July 21, following a tip-off.

He was arrested and is being detained awaiting his removal from the country.

Wahaca was given a penalty notice for employing illegal workers and must provide evidence it carried out the correct checks before employing the man, or face a fine of upto £10,000.

UK Border Agency’s Kent Local Immigration Team head Karyn Dunning said: “We are carrying out operations like this across Kent every week and where we find people who are here illegally we will seek to remove them.

“We are also targeting employers who take on illegal workers – fuelling illegal immigration and undercutting law-abiding businesses.

“Companies who fail to carry out the legally-required checks on staff should know that we are out there looking for them and they will face heavy fines.”

Anyone who suspects illegal workers in Kent can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or go to ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime.