ONE of Swindon’s oldest Indian restaurants was raided by immigration officials from the Home Office this week, with a number of employees found to be in breach of their visas.

At around 6.30pm on Wednesday, two vans filled with officers pulled up outside the Khyber, on Victoria Road, and searched the premises.

Members of staff working at the time were questioned to establish whether they had a right to live and work in the UK.

In total, six Bangladeshi men, aged between 18 and 24, were found to be in breach of their visas. An 18-year-old was arrested and taken into immigration detention while steps are taken to remove him from the country.

The other men, aged 28, 35, 37, 38 and 49, have all been ordered to report to the Home Office regularly while their cases are investigated.

Khyber first opened its doors in 1952 and claims it was the first Indian restaurant in Wiltshire. It potentially faces a hefty fine as immigration rules state it is the responsibility of businesses to ensure all its workers are legally allowed to work in this country.

As well as interviewing the staff, Home Office officials also served a notice warning that a penalty of £20,000 per illegal worker found could be imposed.

The business will be liable to pay this penalty unless it can demonstrate the correct pre-employment checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document. If proof is not provided, this is a potential total £120,000.

Kenny Chapman, assistant director of South West England Home Office Immigration Enforcement, said: “We take reports of illegal working seriously and our officers carry out regular operations like this to tackle abuse of the system.

“Illegal working defrauds the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and often exploits some of society’s most vulnerable people. It also means legitimate job seekers are denied employment opportunities.

“Employers who flout the rules could face a heavy penalty. I would urge the public to report suspected illegal working to us.”

A spokesman for the Khyber refused to comment when contacted by the Adver yesterday.

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