Home Office officials have arrested ten individuals suspected of working illegally in the UK during immigration raids at three Evri depots, according to reports.
The operations, aimed at cracking down on illegal working within the delivery sector, took place at warehouses in Redditch, Croydon, and Crawley.
On July 8, a Pakistani national was arrested at an Evri base in Redditch for overstaying a visa. The following day, in Croydon, three Brazilian nationals, two Pakistani nationals, and one Indian national were detained for various immigration offenses. On July 15, a Gambian national, a Ghanaian national, and a Pakistani national were arrested at the Evri depot in Crawley for visa violations.
All ten individuals have been placed on immigration bail with strict conditions while further inquiries are conducted. The Home Office stated its intention to remove them from the UK as soon as possible.
Companies found to have hired illegal workers without conducting proper pre-employment checks can face fines of up to £60,000 per individual. Eddy Montgomery, director of enforcement, compliance, and crime at the Home Office, emphasized the commitment to working with compliant companies while taking enforcement action against those who break the law.
Currently, right-to-work checks are primarily required for employees under traditional contracts. However, new regulations set to take effect in October will mandate that companies hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers, including those in the delivery sector, must verify their eligibility to work in the UK. Failure to comply could result in significant penalties, including fines, director disqualifications, and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
There is no indication that Evri will face civil penalties in relation to these specific arrests. An Evri spokesperson stated that the company takes its employment responsibilities seriously and conducts right-to-work checks for all employees, expressing commitment to cooperating with Home Office inquiries.
Last year saw a significant increase in enforcement activity related to illegal working, with over 9,000 arrests and 12,800 raids across the UK. This marked a 60% and 58% rise, respectively, compared to the previous year. The Home Office reported a 217% increase in arrests in distribution and delivery services in 2025 compared to 2024.