by Katie Alston

The Home Office has handed out £50,000 in fines to eight businesses in Canterbury and Herne Bay, found to be employing illegal workers.

In the latest of a series of intelligence-led operations, the UK Border Agency found 10 people to be working unlawfully in the area and the employers each received a Notice Of Liability (NOL).

The figures are released four times a year. The operations did not involve Canterbury City Council or Kent Police.

Salma Cuisine in High Street, Wingham, was found with two illegal workers and was fined £10,000.

Owner Moynoor Rashid said: “When I took on the workers three and a half years ago I checked their de tails. They provided me with fake passports and fake National Insurance numbers.

“They looked genuine and I couldn’t tell they weren’t real, but the Home Office ruled that wasn’t good enough.

“The workers were found to be illegal about a year and a half ago now.

“I have paid all of the fine and I always check that employees’ details are in line.”

Beano’s Cafe in Mortimer Street, Herne Bay (pictured right) was also found with two illegal workers and fined £10,000. Owner Kosar Feti said: “It happened back in June or July in 2008.

“It has nothing to do with me it was the previous owner. I took over the business in September 2008.”

Six other businesses in Canterbury and Herne Bay were each found employing one illegal worker and fined £5,000 each, between September 2008 and April 2009.

In Canterbury, they were Azouma, Church Street, Westgate Kebabs, St Dunstan's Street, Kashmir Tandoori, Palace Street and Spice Master, Island Road, Sturry. Herne Bay businesses Direct Pizza Company, Central Parade and Bay Kebabs, High Street were also targetted.

Tony Smith, UK Border Agency regional director for London and the South East said: “UK Border Agency is committed to tackling illegal working in Kent.

"We conduct intelligence-led visits to businesses and residential addresses every week across the county and we appeal for information from the public so we can crack down further on those who are flouting the law."