A Southampton takeaway is facing fines of up to £60,000 after three illegal workers were found on the premises.

Immigration Enforcement officers visited Shanghai Garden, in Premier Parade, Forest Hills Drive and found three illegal immigrants from China.

The business was served a referral notice in relation to the illegal workers arrested.

The notice warns that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

Assistant director Carla Johnson, head of the South Central Immigration Enforcement team, said: “We take robust action against employers who choose to flout the rules.

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

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

Two Chinese men, aged 27 and 41, who were in the country illegally were escorted from the premises.

They must now report regularly to Immigration Enforcement while their cases are progres-

sed.

A 51-year-old Chinese man who was also in the country illegally has been detained while steps are taken to remove him from the UK.

An amount of cash suspected to be the proceeds of illegal working was seized and an application will now be made to the courts to request forfeiture of the money. If successful, the funds will be transferred to the public purse.

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.