A number of people subject to deportation orders were under employment at the warehouses.
Gardaí have arrested a total of 10 people as a result of two separate, multi-agency search operations on warehouses in Dublin and Meath where individuals subject to deportation orders and individuals in contravention of the Immigration and Employment Permits Legislation were being employed.
Aside from the individuals arrested, a number of individuals were encountered with not having any current immigration status in the State and will be subsequently removed in accordance with legislation.
Gardaí attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), in conjunction with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Department of Social Protection, conducted the searches on 30 January and 11 February.
The first search operation, on Thursday 30 January, took place at the warehouse of an Asian food products supplier and a number of attached offices in a business park in West Dublin.
Following investigations, enquiries and intelligence gathered by the GNIB, it was established that this company was suspected of employing persons in contravention of the Immigration and Employment Permits Legislation. It was also established that a number of persons who were subject to deportation orders were being employed at this business.
During the course of the search and inspection, a total of six people were arrested. Three people were arrested on foot of live deportation orders; the remaining three people were arrested for having no legal status to be in the State and subsequently appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Friday 31 January, where they were remanded until 13 March.
During the search, the Department of Social Protection officers suspended a number of payments, including Disability Allowance, Rent Supplement and Child Benefit as a result of this operation, with an estimated potential savings of €100,000 to the State. The Workplace Relations Commission are continuing to investigate to ensure compliance with Employment Legislation.
The second search operation, conducted on Tuesday 11 February, took place at the offices and warehouse of a meat processing company in Meath.
As a result of enquiries and intelligence, it was established that this company was employing persons in contravention of the Immigration and Employment Permits Legislation. A total of 19 individuals were discovered in contravention of either immigration or permit legislation.
Four people were arrested and charged under immigration legislation and were subsequently bailed to appear at Swords courts on 19 February and Balbriggan court on 27 February.
A fifth person claimed asylum, while an additional 11 people were encountered with not having any current immigration status in the State and will be subsequently removed in accordance with legislation. A further three non-EU Nationals were interviewed due to possible discrepancies in relation to work permits.
The Work Relations Commission are continuing to investigate to ensure compliance with Employment Legislation.
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