£1.3 MILLION cannabis factory found as four illegal Indian workers arrested in Smethwick immigration raid
Four illegal workers from India were arrested in an immigration raid in Smethwick - which also uncovered a £1.3m cannabis factory with 2,000 plants.
Police discovered the haul of drugs hidden behind a wall, which they knocked through to find row after row of cannabis-filled plant pots and sophisticated heating and lighting equipment.
Home Office enforcement officers carried out the raid at The Glass Works in Anne Road this week.
Of the four men arrested, three - aged 52, 43 and 19 respectively - had overstayed their visit visas and the fourth, aged 42, had overstayed his spouse visa.
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Two further people were found and escorted from the premises as they had no permission to work there. They were a 37-year-old Indian woman who had overstayed her visit visa and a 39-year-old Indian man who had entered the UK without leave. However, these two were already known to authorities and have been regularly reporting to the Home Office.
A total of 18 immigration officers, five police officers and three PCSOs attended the scene at around 5pm on Wednesday.
Bosses at the site have now been issued with a notice warning them they face a fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker.
A 45-year-old man was also arrested on the production of cannabis and officers seized an amount of cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act as it was suspected to be the proceeds of illegal working.
Carol Scarr, Assistant Director at West Midlands Home Office Immigration Enforcement, said: “Businesses and landlords in the West Midlands should be aware that they need to carry out simple checks on their employees and tenants or face a financial penalty.
"Our Immigration Enforcement teams regularly carry out operations such as this to make sure these rules are enforced.
“Using illegal labour is not a victimless offence. It undercuts honest businesses, cheats the Treasury and can involve the exploitation of some of society’s most vulnerable people.
Four illegal workers from India were arrested in an immigration raid in Smethwick - which also uncovered a £1.3m cannabis factory with 2,000 plants.
Police discovered the haul of drugs hidden behind a wall, which they knocked through to find row after row of cannabis-filled plant pots and sophisticated heating and lighting equipment.
Home Office enforcement officers carried out the raid at The Glass Works in Anne Road this week.
Of the four men arrested, three - aged 52, 43 and 19 respectively - had overstayed their visit visas and the fourth, aged 42, had overstayed his spouse visa.
[***]
Two further people were found and escorted from the premises as they had no permission to work there. They were a 37-year-old Indian woman who had overstayed her visit visa and a 39-year-old Indian man who had entered the UK without leave. However, these two were already known to authorities and have been regularly reporting to the Home Office.
A total of 18 immigration officers, five police officers and three PCSOs attended the scene at around 5pm on Wednesday.
Bosses at the site have now been issued with a notice warning them they face a fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker.
A 45-year-old man was also arrested on the production of cannabis and officers seized an amount of cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act as it was suspected to be the proceeds of illegal working.
Carol Scarr, Assistant Director at West Midlands Home Office Immigration Enforcement, said: “Businesses and landlords in the West Midlands should be aware that they need to carry out simple checks on their employees and tenants or face a financial penalty.
"Our Immigration Enforcement teams regularly carry out operations such as this to make sure these rules are enforced.
“Using illegal labour is not a victimless offence. It undercuts honest businesses, cheats the Treasury and can involve the exploitation of some of society’s most vulnerable people.