THREE LOCAL restaurants have been caught employing illegal workers following a series of raids by immigration officers.

The businesses – in Ammanford, Llandybie and Ystalyfera – could now face fines of up to £10,000 per-worker unless they can prove they carried out the right checks.

At Shezan restaurant, at 32 College Street, Ammanford, a 31-year-old Bangladeshi man, who was employed as a waiter, was found to have overstayed his visa.

At China Wok, at 3 Church Street, Llandybie, two illegal workers were found employed in the kitchens, a 47-year-old Chinese woman and a 50-year-old Bangladeshi man.

All three will be removed from the UK once emergency passports are obtained.

Officers from the UK Border Agency also visited Ming Kee Chinese takeaway, at 5 Wern Road, Ystalyfera.

After the immigration status of staff was checked, all four on duty were found to be illegal workers.

A 33-year-old Malaysian man and 24-year-old Malaysian woman had overstayed their visas, a 26-year-old Chinese man had entered the UK illegally and a 38-year-old Chinese man was a failed asylum seeker who had not left the UK as required when his claim for international protection was turned down.

An agency spokesman said the Malaysian man remains in immigration detention ahead of his removal from the UK and the other three offenders will be removed from the UK as soon as emergency passports are secured.

The takeaway was forced to close for the evening because no members of staff remained on site.

Jane Farleigh, regional director of the UK Border Agency in Wales and the South West, said: “We act on all intelligence we receive about illegal working, cracking down on those who seek to profit by abusing immigration laws.

“Illegal working is unfair on honest employers who recruit staff with the right to work in the UK and who pay them a proper salary.

“We are happy to work with companies to help them make sure the right checks are carried out before they employ migrant workers, but those who flout the law face large fines.”