Evri depots hit by immigration arrests as 10 suspected illegal workers detained

Home Office enforcement officers have arrested 10 suspected illegal workers across three Evri depots in a targeted crackdown on the logistics sector. The arrests — in Redditch, Croydon and Crawley during the first half of July — underline the growing financial and legal risks for UK employers who fail to verify workers' right to work.

Coordinated raids across three counties

The enforcement action began on 8 July at an Evri depot in Redditch, where officials arrested a Pakistani national for overstaying a visa. The following day, 9 July, six arrests were made in Croydon — including three Brazilian nationals, two Pakistani nationals and one individual from India.

The final stage of the operation took place on 15 July at a site in Crawley, where three individuals — nationals of Gambia, Ghana and Pakistan — were detained, all identified as visa overstayers. All ten have been placed on immigration bail while removal proceedings are considered.

Financial penalties and tighter rules ahead

Evri now faces potential fines of up to £60,000 per worker if investigations find the company failed to carry out adequate right-to-work checks. The enforcement comes as new legal requirements loom for the sector: from October 2026, firms in the gig economy will be required to conduct comprehensive right-to-work checks for all workers, including those on zero-hours contracts or engaged through third-party arrangements.

Eddy Montgomery of the Home Office said the operations were part of an ongoing effort to tackle illegal working, with the delivery industry under particular scrutiny. Home Office data shows immigration enforcement arrests in the distribution and delivery sector rose by 217% in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Evri's response and industry context

Evri has confirmed it is cooperating with the Home Office and stated that right-to-work checks had already been carried out for the individuals involved. The delivery industry remains a key focus for government investigators, who say the high volume of arrests reflects a targeted strategy to ensure compliance with labour laws and immigration status requirements across the logistics supply chain.

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