Police yesterday raided a second branch of Cantonese restaurant Me Asia and detained workers for questioning in relation to breaches in the labour laws and reports of human trafficking.
On Monday, the Ariapita Avenue branch of the fast food establishment was raided and 10 people, including one illegal immigrant, were held for questioning.
The business owners were ordered then to close the restaurant after cockroaches and other health violations were found on the premises.
But yesterday when health inspectors returned the business was open and it had to be shut down.
The health inspectors along with police, Immigration and officers attached to the Counter Trafficking Unit also went to the Tragarete Road branch of the restaurant yesterday and seized alcohol which was being sold without a liquor licence. Eight Chinese nationals, including two illegal immigrants and three locals, were detained yesterday.
Speaking with the media outside the Tragarete Road branch yesterday Director of the Counter Trafficking Unit, Alana Wheeler, said the unit was tipped-off by someone who said that the management of the restaurant was not adhering to labour laws, specifically not paying contributions to the National Insurance Scheme and failing to pay overtime to workers who had worked more than the 40-hour work week.
"We are continuing our investigations into Me Asia restaurant. We went to Ariapita Avenue branch yesterday (Monday) and found several health and safety violations. We advised that they keep the businessplace closed until they rectify those violations. However, they did not comply and when we returned today (yesterday) the business place was open. They did not follow the advice of the public health inspectors, so we shut down the Ariapita branch until they comply with the advice of the health and safety inspectors. We have come to this branch and we have found similar violations and so they have again been warned and advised by the public health inspectors to comply with the health and safety regulations," Wheeler said.