A PENARTH restaurant is facing a substantial fine after an illegal worker was found on the premises during a Home Office Immigration Enforcement operation.

Acting on information received, immigration officers visited Jaflon, on Albert Road, at 7.20pm on March 6 and carried out checks on staff.

A 50-year-old man from Bangladesh, who was working in the kitchen of the curry house, was found to have stayed in the UK illegally after his visa expired.

He must now report regularly to the Home Office while arrangements are made to remove him from the UK.

Jaflon, which is based in the building that was originally Penarth's main post office, now faces a potential penalty of up to £10,000 for employing the illegal worker.

To avoid a fine the business must demonstrate that the legally-required pre-employment checks were carried out on the man, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

Richard Johnson, from Home Office Immigration Enforcement, said: “We are working hard to track down people breaking the UK’s immigration laws.

“Illegal working encourages illegal immigration and we are determined to tackle it.

“Operations like this are carried out regularly across Wales and information from the public can be a huge help in our work.”

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/business-sponsors/preventing-illegal-working/ or they can call the Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.

Anyone with information about immigration crime in Wales can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call 029 2092 4727.