Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Twenty five Bangladeshi illegal workers were arrested in the last 7 weeks in several enforcement operations at businesses across the United Kingdom (UK).

The UK Border Agency is now working to remove them from the UK as soon as possible, a British High Commission press statement said in Dhaka on Tuesday.

They had committed immigration offences including entering the UK illegally and overstaying their visas, the statement said, adding that the illegal workers were arrested in enforcement operations by UK Border Agency and police officers in Worchester, Pontypool and Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Exeter, Paignton and Newton Abbott in Devon, Lincolnshire, Warwickshire and Southall in West London.

“The men were working illegally in restaurants and take-aways. These businesses now face fines of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker, unless they can prove that they carried out the correct pre-employment checks,” it noted.

BBN/SSR/AD-01Feb12-7:30 am (BST)