IMMIGRATION officers discovered three illegal immigrants in raids on Indian food restaurants across the Dean.

The UK Border Agency mounted separate raids in three towns on Friday night as part of an ongoing nationwide campaign.

Now, the restaurant owners face fines of up to £10,000 if they cannot prove they carried out the right checks before employing the three workers who will be deported.

Officials say they were acting on intelligence when they raided the MAA Tandoori, on Gloucester Road, Coleford at 6.55pm and questioned staff.

A Bangladeshi man cooking in the kitchen turned out to be a failed asylum seeker who had stayed in the UK illegally when his claim for international protection was turned down.

A simultaneous second raid at Chillies, Kings Building, Hill Street, Lydney, revealed an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh in the kitchen.

A third illegal Bangladeshi immigrant was found working in the kitchen of the Akash Tandoori on The High Street, Cinderford, during a raid at 8.25pm.

All three offenders have been placed on immigration bail and must report weekly to a police station while the UK Border Agency secures the emergency travel documents necessary to deport them.

The three businesses were issued with a civil penalty notice for employing illegal workers.

If they cannot provide evidence that they carried out legally required checks, such as asking for a passport or a Home Office document, they could be fined up to £10,000 each.

Immigration minister Damian Green said: "These operations are among many being carried out across the country following the success of a major crackdown on immigration crime during the summer, which generated a large number of arrests, cash seizures and prosecutions as well as fresh intelligence.

"Illegal immigration puts huge pressure on the public purse at a time when the country can least afford it. "Together with the police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency we will continue to make life as difficult as possible for those who cheat the immigration system."