An illegal worker has been caught after UK Border Agency officers carried out a raid at a restaurant in Monmouth.

Acting on information received, officers visited Jewel Balti, Drybridge Street, last Saturday (13th October) where they carried out immigration checks on staff.

A chef from Bangladesh was found to have entered the UK illegally. He was arrested and taken to Ystrad Mynach police station.

The 40-year-old was later released to report regularly to a local police station while the UK Border Agency secures the emergency travel documents necessary for his removal from the UK.

Richard Johnson, from the UK Border Agency, said: "Employers who take on illegal workers are both fuelling illegal immigration and undercutting businesses which play by the rules.

"The UK Border Agency is determined to stamp out abuse of the immigration system.

"We want the public to contact us if they have any information on businesses or people who are breaking immigration law."

Jewel Balti now faces a penalty of up to £10,000 for employing the illegal worker unless evidence is provided that the correct right-to-work checks were made before he was employed.

Shetu Miah, owner of the Jewel Balti, accused the UK Border Agency of "ruining his business" after being unable to serve customers for two hours on Saturday night.

"Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest for me and I don't know why the Jewel Balti is being targeted like this," he said.

"This was their third visit here and everything was fine before, now they are saying he is not the same person.

"I have his passport, visa and everything I need and I don't know why they would release someone at 10am the next day if they are going to be deported."

Every year, the UK Border Agency imposes civil penalties on hundreds of companies which fail to carry out legally-required checks on their staff.

The UK Border Agency provides support to employers so they can understand the rules, including visits by staff, a dedicated telephone helpline and website. Anyone who has information on suspected immigration offenders can contact the UK Border Agency on 029 2092 4727.

The UK Border Agency provides support to employers so they can understand the rules, including visits by staff, a dedicated telephone helpline and website.

Anyone who has information on suspected immigration offenders can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime/">http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime/ or contact the UK Border Agency on 029 2092 4727.