TWO Gwent takeaways were fined a total of £35,000 after immigration officers raided the premises.

Officers from the UK Border Agency searched Red Hot Goodies in Newport, and Balti King, in Cwmbran, on January 23 following a tip off about illegal workers.

Six Chinese men and a Malaysian woman were found to be living and working illegally in the UK when officers checked the immigration status of workers at Red Hot Goodies, in Cardiff Road.

Officers issued an ‘on-the-spot’ notice warning the employers they would be fined unless they could prove they carried out legally required checks on non-European staff, such as asking for a passport or work permit.

No evidence was provided and the employers have now been given a £30,000 civil penalty fine.

The woman and one of the men have already been deported.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said the other five men are on immigration bail, reporting to local police stations weekly, while “emergency travel documents” are arranged.

On the same evening, immigration officers also raided Balti King, Richmond Road, Pontnewydd, where two Bangladeshi men were found to be working illegally.

The employers failed to provide evidence that they had carried out the necessary checks and were fined £5,000. Both men are currently on immigration bail, awaiting travel documents.

Jane Farleigh, UK Border Agency regional director for Wales, said: “These substantial fines show how seriously we are taking the problem of illegal working. The use of illegal workers undercuts legitimate businesses ad is unfair on honest employers.”

Both businesses are now on the agency’s website, which publishes the details of employers who have been found liable for a civil penalty fine.