Illegal immigrants found in raids

The UK Borders Agency says the raids followed tip-offs

Ten people suspected of being illegal immigrants have been uncovered in raids in Powys.

Officials from the UK Border Agency visited three premises in Llandrindod Wells and Welshpool on Thursday.

In the first case, an Indian man whose visa had expired was found working at a fish and chip shop in Llandrindod.

In a further two raids, officers found nine Chinese immigrants at a pub and a take-away restaurant in Welshpool who are thought to be in Wales illegally.

A spokesperson for the UK Border Agency said its officers visited the Quality Fish Bar in Llandrindod at 13.00 GMT on Thursday after receiving intelligence regarding workers there.

An Indian man who was working behind the counter was found to have stayed in the UK after his visa ran out.

An immigration application for that individual is now being considered by the authorities.

Later at around 1800 GMT, officials carried out simultaneous raids at the Breidden Inn at Middletown, Welshpool and at the Fortune Court on High St in the town.

Visa breaches

Six Chinese suspects were found employed in a variety of jobs at the Breidden Inn, including serving behind the bar and preparing food.

After the immigration status of the workers was checked, three women and a man were found to have entered the UK illegally, said the agency.

Two men were failed asylum seekers who had not left the country despite their claims to stay in the UK being rejected.

Officials discovered two Chinese women and a man at the Fortune Court take-away who were believed to have breached visa and asylum seeker rules.

Jane Farleigh, regional director of the UK Border Agency in Wales and South West, said: "These raids are part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal working in Wales to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to illegal immigrants."

Eight of the ten people uncovered have been released on bail, and will be removed from the UK in the near future, said the Border Agency.

One of the Chinese women detained at the take-away restaurant had been detained and will be removed from the country next week.