Three workers arrested over immigration offences after DPD Edinburgh depot raid

Three workers have been arrested following a Home Office raid at a delivery depot in Edinburgh.

Immigration enforcement officers carried out a targeted raid at a DPD warehouse on Cliftonhall Road in the Newbridge area on October 22.

Two Indian nationals suspected of working in breach of their bail and visa conditions, and one Moroccan national suspected of working without permission, were arrested.

All have been placed on immigration bail, subject to strict conditions, and if found to have been working in the country illegally, will be deported.

The raid was part of a Home Office crackdown on illegal working in the delivery sector. Since 2024, almost 2,000 arrests have been made specifically in the warehousing, distribution and delivery services sector.

Work will also be undertaken to uncover who is responsible for employing the workers.

An employer in breach of the law can receive a fine of up to £60,000 per worker.

Director of immigration enforcement, compliance and crime, Eddy Montgomery said: “I thank the officers involved in this operation for another successful enforcement visit.

“We are continuing to develop our working relationship with DPD, who are actively assisting us with ongoing work to ensure compliance with the law in the delivery sector.

“My teams are delivering record levels of illegal working activity, and this remains crucial in removing a pull factor which drives illegal migration to the UK.”

A DPD spokesperson added: “DPD UK is working collaboratively with the Home Office to enable Right to Work checks to be carried out on associated delivery partners at DPD locations.

“As a result of those checks, individuals have been detained pending verification of their documentation.

“Right to Work checks are in place across DPD for both our colleagues and our delivery partners and we remain fully committed to working with the Home Office to tackle illegal working in our sector.”