Italian restaurant chain Florentino's, which was already under investigation for employing suspected illegal workers, has been raided for a second time in four months. Immigration enforcement officers visited the Tenby branch on June 30, 2026, following new intelligence.
Previous Raid in Carmarthen
In February 2026, officers raided the Carmarthen branch, arresting four individuals: two Romanian nationals, a Bangladeshi national, and a Mongolian national. None had the right to work in the UK. Two have since returned to their home country, one was placed on immigration bail, and the other was de-arrested with a warning.
Tenby Raid Details
The Tenby venue, which opened in 2019 overlooking the harbour, was visited by enforcement officers on June 30. Two Romanian workers were arrested for lacking the right to work. One has already returned to Romania, and the other is in the process of returning.
Investigation and Penalties
The UK Home Office has launched an investigation to identify who employed the workers. Employers can face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker. According to the Home Office, 1,320 illegal working raids were conducted in Wales in 2025, resulting in 649 arrests—a 103% and 85% increase respectively compared to 2024.
Official Statement
Immigration enforcement lead for Wales, Richard Johnson, said: “I want to thank my officers who showed the highest levels of professionalism under challenging circumstances on these operations. Immigration enforcement teams in Wales continue to work round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”
Previous Tax Issues
Florentino's has faced other legal troubles. Claudio Cernat Ltd, trading as Florentino’s, failed to pay £278,561 in tax between April 2016 and April 2020, leading to an HMRC penalty of £185,977.
