Nine parcel delivery workers were arrested during a recent Home Office operation targeting illegal employment at DPD depots in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and Newbury, Berkshire. The individuals detained—seven from India, one from Ghana, and one from Pakistan—are suspected of immigration offenses. All nine have been released on bail under strict conditions as investigations continue.

The enforcement action forms part of the UK government’s broader crackdown on illegal working, a campaign intensified amid growing concerns over the exploitation of undocumented migrants in the labor market. Companies found employing illegal workers face financial penalties of up to £60,000 per individual.

Adam Duffin, South Central immigration enforcement lead, emphasized the government’s commitment to holding employers accountable. “I want this to send a message to firms trying to flout the rules, we are cracking down and will put a stop to it,” he said.

DPD stated it cooperated fully with immigration enforcement officers during the raids and acknowledged the removal of a small number of individuals from its facilities. The company affirmed its ongoing commitment to assisting authorities throughout the investigation.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged to intensify efforts to identify and arrest illegal workers, recently participating in enforcement actions targeting unauthorized mini-marts in Birmingham. The Labour Party has highlighted a marked increase in such arrests in recent years, noting that the number of individuals detained for illegal working reached historic highs in 2025.

Official statistics show more than 9,000 arrests related to suspected illegal working and 12,800 raids were conducted across the UK last year. This represents an 83 percent increase in arrests and a 77 percent rise in raids compared to 2024.

In a related context, previous reports have uncovered cases of migrants residing in asylum accommodation while engaging in unauthorized delivery work, drawing attention to the ongoing challenges in regulating labor practices within the logistics and delivery sectors.