Home Office officials have arrested 10 individuals suspected of working illegally in the United Kingdom during a series of immigration raids at Evri depots. The operations, aimed at cracking down on illegal working within the delivery sector, were conducted across three different warehouse locations.
On July 8, an immigration raid at an Evri depot in Redditch, West Midlands, resulted in the arrest of a Pakistani national for overstaying a visa. The following day, at an Evri facility in Croydon, three Brazilian nationals, two Pakistani nationals, and one Indian national were apprehended for various immigration offenses.
A third operation on July 15 at an Evri depot in Crawley led to the arrest of a Gambian national, a Ghanaian national, and a Pakistani national, all of whom were found to have overstayed their visas.
All individuals arrested 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.
Employers found to have hired illegal workers without conducting proper pre-employment checks can face fines of up to £60,000 per individual. The Home Office noted that it is common for companies in the delivery sector to utilize subcontractors for recruitment.
Last year, immigration enforcement actions in distribution and delivery services saw a 217% increase in arrests compared to 2024, marking 2025 as a record year for illegal working enforcement with over 9,000 arrests and 12,800 raids across the UK. These figures represent a 60% and 58% rise, respectively, from the previous year.
Eddy Montgomery, director of enforcement, compliance, and crime at the Home Office, emphasized the commitment to working with compliant companies while not hesitating to take enforcement action against those who break the law.
Upcoming Regulatory Changes
Currently, right-to-work checks are mandated for companies with traditional employer-employee contracts. However, starting in October, companies hiring workers in the gig economy and those on zero-hours contracts, including those in the delivery sector, will be legally required to verify their eligibility to work in the UK. Failure to comply could result in significant penalties, including fines up to £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications, and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
There is no indication that Evri will face civil penalties related to these recent arrests. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reiterated the government's stance, stating that illegal working incentivizes illegal immigration and that those found working illegally in sectors like delivery will be arrested, detained, and removed.
An Evri spokesperson stated that the company takes its employment responsibilities seriously, conducts right-to-work checks for all employees, and is cooperating with the Home Office inquiries.