A NORTH Lancashire restaurant could be slapped with a £30,000 fine for employing illegal workers.

Immigration officers raided Trungs, on Main Road, Bolton-le-Sands, acting on intelligence that the business was employing staff with no right to be in the UK.

The Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant could face a potential fine of up to £30,000 following the raid last Thursday, unless it can prove correct checks had taken place.

Home Office immigration enforcers said three men were arrested, including a 29-year-old Malaysian national working in breach of his visa conditions, a 37-year-old Vietnamese national who had entered the country illegally and a 50-year-old Chinese national who had overstayed his visa.

“Employers who use illegal labour are defrauding the taxpayer, undercutting genuine employers and denying legitimate job hunters work,” said Karen McDonough, head of the Merseyside Home Office Immigration Enforcement team.

She said the Chinese and Malaysian men were transferred to immigration detention pending removal from the country.

The Vietnamese man was put on immigration bail while steps are taken to remove him from the country.

The business was warned that a penalty of up to £10,000 per illegal worker would be imposed unless proof was provided that the correct checks were carried out.

Ms McDonough added: “These arrests are a clear warning to those in Lancashire abusing our immigration laws. There will be no slow down in our efforts to arrest, detain and remove you from the UK.

“We’re happy to work with employers who want to play by the rules but those which continue to flout them will face heavy financial penalties.

“I would urge anyone with detailed and specific information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

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

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can find them at www.gov.uk/check-an-employees-right-to-work-documents or they can call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.