London, Nov 8 (IANS): Eight illegal Indian workers have been arrested in the British city of Leicester during a raid on a factory.

Police and officials of the UK Border Agency in a joint operation arrested the suspected illegal workers during a raid at Spring Shades Ltd on Friday Street in Leicester Thursday, the Leicester Mercury reported.

The operation began at 6.30 a.m.

Both entrances to the building were sealed off by the police during the course of the raid.

At the end of the three-hour operation, eight workers were arrested.

The firm may face a fine of 80,000 pounds (10,000 pounds for each worker) for employing illegal workers, unless they can prove that they did their every bit to ensure their status.

“This morning’s operation was a great success,” police officer Donna Tobin-Davies was quoted as saying.

“We will continue to support our colleagues in the Home Office Immigration and Enforcement team to tackle immigration crime and associated criminality in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland,” the officer said.

“The arrests add to the success of our force’s new initiative Operation Tiger, which aims to tackle serious crime and ASB during an intense period of police activity,” Tobin-Davies said.