Illegal workers were discovered on duty at a Llanelli takeaway twice within a five-month period, a licensing sub-committee meeting heard. Immigration officers first found an illegal worker at All In One takeaway on Murray Street in February 2025, and then found two more during a subsequent visit in July 2025.
Owner Penalised and Licence Revoked
Haci Ali Turkmen, who owned the business at the time, was issued an £80,000 penalty. Carmarthenshire Council's licensing sub-committee has now revoked the premises licence, although he retains the right to appeal. The licence had permitted late-night operating hours seven days a week, including from 11pm to 3.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mr Turkmen has since sold the business but did not transfer the premises licence to the new owner.
Details of the First Incident
A Home Office summary of the case detailed that the illegal worker discovered in February 2025 was handling potatoes with flour-covered hands. He told immigration officers he was preparing food for himself and not working. However, CCTV footage showed him cooking food and serving customers. Home Office checks revealed he had illegally entered the UK in July 2024 and had no right to work.
Mr Turkmen was present at the takeaway during the first visit and identified himself as the owner. He initially claimed the suspected illegal worker did not formally work there, then admitted he helped with tasks such as preparing roast potatoes when he was struggling. Mr Turkmen told immigration officers he did not know the worker had no permission to work in the UK and described his immigration status as "private."
Second Visit Uncovers More Violations
When officers visited again in July 2025, a person behind the counter walked to the rear of the premises and sat on a freezer. He claimed it was his first day there but later admitted he had been helping for a few weeks and said the business belonged to his uncle. Home Office checks showed he had entered the UK illegally in September 2023, his protection claim was refused in April 2025, and his appeal was ongoing. Working at the takeaway breached his work restrictions.
The second illegal worker initially said he was at All In One to charge his phone. Checks revealed he had entered the UK illegally in April 2023. He stated Mr Turkmen was his cousin.
Mr Turkmen told officers he was responsible for hiring and that the two individuals had worked there for three to four months and five to six months, respectively. He paid them in cash, provided food and cigarettes, and assumed they were allowed to work based on the wording of their biometric residence cards.
Lack of Preventative Measures
The case summary noted it was "pertinent that Mr Turkmen was present during both enforcement visits" and that "no preventative measures were put in place following the first visit to prevent illegal working such as conducting right-to-work checks."
At the licensing sub-committee meeting, Mr Turkmen, who said his English was not good, claimed the cards indicated work was allowed and that even immigration officers agreed. "How am I going to know?" he asked.
Alex Romano, from the Home Office's immigration enforcement department, stated that Mr Turkmen had made assumptions about what the cards meant. "Proper right to work checks were not undertaken," she said.
Broader Impact of Illegal Working
Ms Romano emphasised that the ability to work illegally in the UK drives illegal migration. "It encourages people to breach UK immigration laws and provides the means for migrants to remain unlawfully in the United Kingdom," she explained. "It exposes individuals to exploitation and fuels dangerous journeys facilitated by people smugglers, unfairly disadvantages legitimate businesses that comply with the law, depresses wages for lawful workers, and is often linked to wider labour market abuse."
She noted that Mr Turkmen's company, St Kebab & Pizza Ltd, was issued an £80,000 penalty which remains unpaid. The company went into liquidation the month after the fine was issued.
Appeal and Licence Revocation
Mr Turkmen, who no longer owns All In One takeaway, appealed to councillors not to revoke the premises licence because he had informed the new owner about the permitted late hours. However, the council's legal officer, Robert Edgecombe, said the licence should have been transferred to the new owner but had not been.
After considering the evidence, the sub-committee revoked the premises licence for All In One takeaway, meaning it cannot open after 11pm.
