Six arrests made at South Wales restaurant chain for suspected illegal working

• Six individuals arrested on suspicion of illegal working at popular Welsh restaurant chain 
• Four arrests at Florentino’s in Carmarthen and two arrests at Tenby restaurant 
• Comes as illegal working visits and arrests are at their highest level in British history 

  

Immigration Enforcement officers in South Wales have arrested six individuals for suspected illegal working at Florentino’s Italian restaurants in Carmarthen and Tenby. 

  

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Carmarthen restaurant in February and arrested four individuals all without the right to work. 

Following up new intelligence last week, officers visited the chain’s Tenby restaurant and identified two individuals without the right to work who were subsequently arrested. 

Of the six individuals, three have already returned to their home countries and one is in the process of returning. Of the remaining two, one has been placed on immigration bail, subject to strict conditions, while further enquiries take place. The final individual was de-arrested with a warning. 

  

Work will now begin to establish who the liable party is for employing the individuals. An employer in breach of the law can receive a fine of up to £60,000 per worker. 

  

The operation forms part of the Home Secretary’s sweeping reforms to the immigration system, to scale up removals of those with no right to be in the UK and remove the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain.  

  

Since coming into power in July 2024, the Government has increased illegal working enforcement activity to the highest level in British history, with an 83% rise in arrests and 77% increase in raids across the UK.  

  

2025 was the highest year on record for illegal working enforcement activity with over 9,000 arrests and 12,800 raids carried out across the UK – a 60% and 58% rise respectively compared to 2024.    

In Wales, 1,320 illegal working raids were carried out in 2025, leading to 649 arrests – a 103% and 85% rise respectively compared to 2024. 

  

Immigration Enforcement Lead for Wales, Richard Johnson said:  

  

“I want to thank my officers who showed the highest levels of professionalism under challenging circumstances on these operations.

  

“Immigration Enforcement teams in Wales continue to work round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”

  

Until now, companies hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers, including in the delivery sector, have not legally been required to check their right to work. This is changing and the government will publish its response to the Extending the Right to Work checks to the gig economy consultation later this month.  

  

This means companies hiring people in the gig economy will be legally required to carry out checks to confirm anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK. Those who fail to do so will face hefty penalties including fines of up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years.   

  

This activity sits on top of the Government’s action to remove nearly 70,000 people with no right to be here since taking office.