Nine individuals have been detained under immigration legislation following enforcement operations at fishing ports across Aberdeenshire and the Highlands. The arrests comprised four detentions in Mallaig and five in Fraserburgh, conducted by immigration enforcement officers over a seven-day period between 26 and 30 July.
Immigration Enforcement's Threat Response and Volume Crime Unit deployed officers across the ports of Barra, Oban, Fraserburgh, and Mallaig in response to intelligence concerning a suspected rogue fishing fleet operator. The enforcement action resulted in officers boarding 34 fishing vessels to investigate reports of modern slavery, labour exploitation, illegal working, and other criminal activity within the UK commercial fishing sector.
Those detained included five Sri Lankan nationals and four Philippine nationals. The four individuals from the Philippines have since voluntarily returned to their home country.
Who was involved in the operation?
The enforcement action brought together multiple agencies including Border Security Command, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Police Scotland, and the exploitation and modern slavery team. This coordinated approach reflects the complexity of investigating labour violations across maritime operations.
The fishing industry has previously been identified as a sector where migrant workers face exploitation. The Home Office has previously documented cases involving migrant fishers from the Philippines, Ghana, India and Sri Lanka as victims of modern slavery in Scotland-linked investigations, indicating this enforcement action addresses a persistent problem within the sector.
What penalties could employers face?
Civil penalty referral notices were issued during the operation. Employers found to have engaged illegal workers without conducting required pre-employment checks face potential fines of up to £60,000 per worker. These penalties form part of a broader enforcement framework designed to deter hiring practices that exploit vulnerable individuals.
From October, the legal obligations will expand significantly. Companies employing gig economy and zero-hours workers—including those in the delivery sector—will be required to conduct eligibility checks on all individuals working in their name. Failure to comply will result in substantial consequences: fines reaching £60,000 per worker, director disqualifications, and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
How is enforcement activity changing?
Immigration enforcement activity has intensified markedly. In the first six months of 2026, immigration enforcement visits increased by 31% compared with the equivalent period in 2025, while arrests rose by 20% year-on-year. According to reporting on the operation, illegal working visits and arrests in Scotland reached record levels in 2025 and have more than than doubled across the UK since the election.
Anna Turley, UK minister for border security and asylum, stated:
This government is tackling illegal working and ensuring unscrupulous employers are not exploiting vulnerable individuals and undercutting legitimate business. That is why in Scotland illegal working visits and arrests were at record levels in 2025, and have more than doubled across the UK since the election.
Adam San, assistant director of Immigration Enforcement's Threat Response and Volume Crime Unit, commented:
Immigration Enforcement deal with threats across the UK and this is not limited to illegal activity occurring solely on land. These arrests demonstrate our ability to tackle all illegal working, in whatever form it takes.
What are the government's longer-term plans?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has committed to doubling the Immigration Enforcement budget by 2028/29 and expanding the workforce by 60%. This investment is projected to enable tens of thousands of additional raids, arrests, and removals of individuals not entitled to remain in the UK.
Since the general election in May, more than 80,000 immigration offenders and foreign criminals have been removed from the country. The broader enforcement strategy reflects a sustained commitment to tackling illegal working across all sectors and regions.
This operation is part of a wider pattern of enforcement activity. Over 300 arrests were made in a previous UK police crackdown on organised immigration crime, with authorities seizing over £1 million in cash and illegal goods across various businesses. Similar enforcement actions have targeted other sectors; for instance, six people were arrested on suspicion of illegal work at two Italian restaurants in West Wales in June 2026.
Key Facts
- Nine individuals arrested across Fraserburgh and Mallaig between 26–30 July under immigration legislation
- Officers boarded 34 fishing boats investigating modern slavery, labour exploitation, and illegal working
- Employers can face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker; from October, new legal requirements apply to gig economy and zero-hours employers
- Immigration enforcement visits increased 31% and arrests rose 20% in the first half of 2026 compared with 2025
- Home Secretary plans to double Immigration Enforcement budget by 2028/29 and increase workforce by 60%
