Action has been taken against suspected “underlying criminality” within Highland takeaways and restaurants.
Premises in Grantown and Dornoch were visited during the evening of Thursday, September 22 as part of enforcement activity to tackle suspected money laundering, immigration and drugs offences.
The operation involved several agencies including police, various council departments, the fire service, Home Office immigration enforcement and the HMRC.
Detective Superintendent Colin Carey said: “This has been a worthwhile operation involving a number of agencies in order to deter and disrupt criminal activity and importantly sends the message that organised crime in relation to labour exploitation, tax evasion and immigration offences, to name a few, will not be tolerated.
“Our colleagues from the Highland Council, Home Office Immigration Enforcement and HMRC will progress investigations into suspected licencing, tax and immigration offences.”
The premises’ were revistsed the next day by the council’s environmental health service who found concerns regarding cleanliness had been addressed.
Highland Council’s Community Services chairman Councillor Allan Henderson said: “This is excellent targeted work by our Environmental Health Officers with partners that the public never hear about.
“I am delighted that we have the upper hand and are getting the message out that criminality associated with the takeaway and restaurant industry will not be tolerated in Highland.”
