SEVEN suspected illegal immigrants arrested in Ipswich had all been working at the same restaurant where a previous raid led to 14 people being detained, it is believed.

SEVEN suspected illegal immigrants arrested in Ipswich had all been working at the same restaurant where a previous raid led to 14 people being detained, it is believed.

Officials from the Border and Immigration Agency carried out the operation on Friday with police.

Two Malaysian nationals were arrested for overstaying their conditions, and have now been moved to immigration detention. One Chinese national was held as a failed asylum seeker.

House searches were then carried out, and three men and a woman - all Malaysian - were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

It is understood all seven had worked at the Temptation Chinese Buffet restaurant in Carr Street, Ipswich.

Last November, 14 suspected illegal immigrants were arrested at the same restaurant.

Andrew Bell, a spokesman for the Home Office, said: “The Border and Immigration Agency is determined to put a stop to illegal working in Ipswich. We have teams visiting businesses across the region to make sure they are not breaking the law.

“Anyone found to be working illegally should know that we will seek to remove them from the country.

“Our message to employers who do not take this issue seriously is simple, if you employ illegal workers you could be named and shamed, and face criminal charges.”

Temptations restaurant refused to comment on the incident.

Anyone who suspects that staff are illegally working in Ipswich should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 anonymously.