FOUR people have been arrested and face deportation after immigration enforcement officers swooped on premises in Stourbridge, Kingswinford, Halesowen and Smethwick.

Acting on intelligence, officers carried out four visits yesterday evening (Thursday October 5) which led to the arrests.

At about 5.20pm, a 33-year-old Indian man was arrested at Gurry Barber Shop, High Street, Smethwick, on suspicion of overstaying his visa.

Minutes later at about 5.35pm, a visit to Rising takeaway on Dingle Road, Kingswinford, led to the arrest of a 21-year-old Malaysian woman, believed to have overstayed her visit visa.

Then at 8.20pm - a 36-year-old Bangladeshi man, also thought to have overstayed his visa, was arrested at Dilshad International, Halesowen Road, Halesowen.

Officers later seized cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act – and an application will be made to the courts requesting forfeiture of the money which is alleged to be the proceeds of illegal working.

Finally, at about 8.30pm, a 39-year-old Bangladeshi man, believed to be a failed asylum seeker, was arrested at Galley Grill in Lye High Street.

The four individuals were all detained pending their removal from the UK.

Each business was also served a civil penalty referral notice warning that a fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found could be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

Assistant director Carol Scarr, head of the West Midlands Immigration Enforcement team, said: “These successful operations are an excellent example of the work of my teams, who cover the whole of the West Midlands.

“Illegal working is not victimless, it undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the public purse.

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

Employers can find out how to carry out checks to prevent illegal working online at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/employers-illegal-working-penalties.

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