This is the moment 18 workers were arrested in an immigration bust at a busy DPD delivery depot. The staff were detained on suspicion of immigration offences amid a crackdown on illegal working in the parcel delivery sector. Officers arrived at the parcel delivery company’s Dudley Port in Wolverhampton last Tuesday (September 29), with wiedly circulated social media footage appearing to show uniformed workers sitting beside their vans as Home Office officials patrolled around them. Following the raid, the business was handed a Civil Penalty Referral Notice, meaning further investigations will now take place to establish whether it has any liability.

Under the rules, businesses can face hefty fines if they are found to have employed illegal workers and failed to carry out the required right-to-work checks. Fines can reach £45,000 per worker for a first breach and rise to £60,000 for repeat offending. In the most serious cases, businesses can also face prosecution.

In a statement, the Home Office said: “We will not stand for illegal working”. “Since coming into office, immigration enforcement activity has risen to its highest level on record under this government, with illegal working arrests up by 122 per cent. “We have strengthened right to work requirements to cover the parcel delivery sector, helping to ensure appropriate checks are carried out.

“Businesses failing to meet their obligations may face fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker and, in the most serious cases, criminal prosecution,” it added, according to The Sun.

However, DPD has denied that it was served a penalty notice and insited it has robust checks in place. A spokesperson said: “At DPD we take our legal obligations extremely seriously and we have right to work checks in place for all of our people.

“In addition, we have carried out a review of these procedures ahead of the new legislation that came into force recently, and we will continue to support and work closely with the Home Office on this issue,” the statement added. “We can also confirm DPD has not been served with a Penalty Notice.”

The latest crackdown comes after nine people were arrested at two DPD depots in the south of England this summer. Immigration Enforcement officers arrived at sites in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and Newbury, Berkshire, on June 11, where right-to-work checks were carried out on more than 100 people across the two sites.

Seven Indian nationals, one Ghanaian national and one Pakistani national were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. All nine were placed on immigration bail with conditions while further inquiries took place.

‘Illegal Workers’ Arrested in Immigration Raid on DPD Delivery Depot in Latest Crackdown

Eighteen workers have been arrested following a Home Office immigration raid at a DPD delivery depot in Wolverhampton, intensifying the government’s crackdown on suspected illegal working across Britain’s parcel delivery industry.

The operation took place at the company’s Dudley Port site on 29 September 2026. Immigration Enforcement officers detained the workers on suspicion of immigration offences as part of a wider effort to ensure that people working in the UK have the legal permission required to do so.

The business was also issued with a Civil Penalty Referral Notice, triggering further investigations into whether it could be liable for breaches of employment regulations.

The operation has brought renewed attention to the responsibilities of delivery companies, the growth of flexible working arrangements and the government’s attempts to prevent employers from using workers who do not have the right to work in Britain.

However, the arrests do not establish that every individual involved was working illegally, nor do they prove that DPD itself committed an offence. Those questions depend on the outcome of the investigation.

Home Office officers descend on DPD depot

The raid took place on Tuesday, 29 September, when immigration officers arrived at DPD’s Dudley Port depot in Wolverhampton.

Footage circulated on social media appeared to show people wearing DPD uniforms sitting beside delivery vans while officials carried out enforcement activity at the site.

The operation formed part of a wider programme targeting suspected illegal working in sectors where large numbers of people are employed through subcontracting, temporary arrangements or flexible working models.

Delivery services have attracted particular attention because workers may operate under arrangements that differ from conventional employment. Companies can use contractors, subcontractors and other intermediaries, creating questions about who is responsible for verifying an individual’s right to work.

The government has moved to extend right-to-work requirements to businesses using flexible labour arrangements in the parcel delivery sector. The aim is to make it harder for people without the necessary permission to obtain work and to ensure that companies cannot avoid their legal responsibilities simply by using a third party.

The latest operation demonstrates that the authorities are continuing to scrutinise the industry as those requirements take effect.

For workers detained during such operations, the immediate consequences can be serious. They may face further immigration inquiries, restrictions on their activities while their cases are assessed, or potential removal proceedings if the authorities establish that they have no legal right to remain or work in the UK.

But an arrest on suspicion is not a final determination. Each individual’s circumstances must be examined before a decision is reached.

DPD responds to the arrests

DPD has maintained that it takes its legal responsibilities seriously and has procedures in place to check the right to work of its staff.

The company said it had reviewed its procedures ahead of the introduction of the new legislation and would continue cooperating with the Home Office.

It also stated that it had not been served with a penalty notice.

That distinction is important. A Civil Penalty Referral Notice initiates further investigation into potential liability; it is not the same as a final finding that a company has broken the law.

Under the relevant rules, employers found to have employed someone without the necessary permission and failed to conduct the required checks can face substantial financial penalties. The amount can reach £45,000 per worker for a first breach and £60,000 for repeat offending. Serious cases can also result in prosecution.

Investigators must establish whether the relevant legal requirements applied, whether the appropriate checks were completed and whether the company or another responsible party was liable.

DPD’s response indicates that it disputes the suggestion that it has already received a penalty notice. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether any enforcement action against the business is justified.

A second major DPD enforcement operation

The Wolverhampton raid follows an earlier operation at two DPD depots in southern England.

On 11 June 2026, Immigration Enforcement officers visited sites in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and Newbury, Berkshire. Right-to-work checks were carried out on more than 100 people across the two locations.

Nine people were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. The Home Office identified seven Indian nationals, one Ghanaian national and one Pakistani national among those detained.

All nine were placed on immigration bail with conditions while further inquiries took place.

The June operation highlighted the authorities’ growing focus on parcel delivery businesses. The September raid, involving 18 arrests at one depot, suggests that enforcement activity in the sector remains a priority.

Nevertheless, the two operations should not be treated as proof that illegal working is widespread throughout the delivery industry. Establishing the scale of the problem requires reliable data about the number of workers checked, the outcomes of investigations and the proportion of cases in which breaches are confirmed.

What the cases do demonstrate is that delivery companies are facing increasing scrutiny over the people working through their networks.

Government intensifies its crackdown

The raids form part of a broader government campaign against illegal working.

Home Office figures covering the first half of 2026 recorded 7,270 illegal-working visits across the UK, resulting in 4,756 arrests. Compared with the same period in 2025, visits increased by 31 per cent and arrests by 20 per cent.

The figures also showed a substantial increase in enforcement activity targeting warehousing, distribution and delivery services.

Between January and June 2026, the Home Office recorded 635 visits in that sector, compared with 257 during the same period in 2025. Arrests associated with the sector rose from 373 to 635.

Across all sectors, the department reported that more than 1,200 businesses had received civil penalties for employing people illegally during the first six months of the year, with the penalties valued at more than £74 million.

The government has argued that stronger enforcement is necessary to reduce incentives for people to enter or remain in the UK unlawfully. Ministers also say that employers who deliberately ignore immigration rules can undermine businesses that follow the law and pay the associated costs.

The figures reflect enforcement activity rather than the total number of people working illegally in Britain. They also do not establish that every person arrested was ultimately found to have breached immigration law.

Even so, the data shows that enforcement has become more intensive and that distribution and delivery businesses are among the sectors receiving increased attention.

Why the parcel delivery sector is under scrutiny

The growth of online shopping has transformed the parcel delivery industry, creating demand for large numbers of drivers and couriers.

Many companies rely on complicated networks involving subcontractors, self-employed drivers and other flexible arrangements. These models can help businesses respond to changing demand, but they can also make it harder to establish who is responsible for checking an individual’s employment eligibility.

The government’s decision to extend right-to-work checks is intended to close gaps in the system.

Employers generally must establish that workers have permission to undertake the work in question. The specific duties and penalties depend on the legal relationship involved and the rules that apply to the organisation.

Where businesses fail to conduct the required checks, they may face significant penalties even if they argue that another company supplied the worker.

For large delivery operators, the challenge is to ensure that compliance procedures cover not only directly employed staff but also relevant contractors and subcontracting arrangements.

That can require stronger identity verification, clearer contractual responsibilities, more reliable records and regular reviews of recruitment processes.

Companies must also ensure that legitimate workers are not unfairly treated because of their nationality or appearance. Right-to-work checks should be applied consistently and lawfully, rather than based on assumptions about an individual’s background.

The aim of enforcement is to establish legal eligibility, not to presume that a particular nationality or group of workers is breaking the law.

The link between illegal working and immigration policy

The government has repeatedly argued that access to unlawful employment can provide an incentive for people to enter Britain without permission or remain after their immigration status expires.

Officials believe that reducing opportunities for illegal work can make the business model of people-smuggling networks less attractive.

The argument is that enforcement at the workplace complements border controls: preventing unauthorised employment may reduce the financial incentives that encourage some people to undertake dangerous journeys across the Channel.

However, illegal working and illegal entry are distinct legal issues. A person’s right to work depends on their immigration status and the conditions attached to it, while the circumstances of entry and any asylum claim must be assessed separately.

Not everyone who arrives irregularly is automatically ineligible for protection, and an arrest for suspected illegal working does not by itself establish how someone entered the country.

Effective enforcement therefore requires individual assessments, accurate records and decisions made under the relevant immigration rules.

The government’s broader strategy also includes investigations into suspected organised immigration crime and action against employers who knowingly or negligently fail to meet their legal obligations.

What could happen next?

The immediate question is whether the investigation into the Wolverhampton depot establishes any immigration offences and whether any employer or other responsible party failed to meet the applicable legal requirements.

For the 18 people arrested, the authorities will need to assess their individual circumstances and determine whether further immigration action is warranted.

For DPD, the investigation will establish whether there is any basis for a civil penalty or other enforcement action. The company has said that it has right-to-work checks in place and has not received a penalty notice.

Other delivery businesses will be watching the case closely. The combination of more frequent inspections, tougher compliance requirements and potentially substantial fines creates a strong incentive for companies to review their procedures.

The industry may need to invest more in verifying identities, checking immigration status and ensuring that subcontractors understand their responsibilities. Such measures can increase administrative costs, but failures can carry much greater financial and legal consequences.

The government, meanwhile, will need to show that enforcement produces reliable outcomes rather than simply increasing the number of arrests. Confirmed breaches, fair investigations, appropriate penalties and lawful decisions about immigration status will all matter when assessing the effectiveness of the crackdown.

A warning for the delivery industry

The DPD raid in Wolverhampton is another sign that the government is placing greater emphasis on illegal working outside the sectors traditionally associated with immigration enforcement.

For delivery companies, the message is that flexible staffing arrangements do not automatically remove legal responsibilities. Businesses must understand which checks apply to their operations and ensure that their procedures meet the relevant requirements.

For workers, the case is a reminder that immigration status and permission to work are separate matters that must be assessed according to the law.

For the public, the arrests raise questions about enforcement, employment practices and the operation of Britain’s immigration system. Those questions deserve clear answers, but they should be based on confirmed findings rather than assumptions about the people detained or the company involved.

The investigation into the Dudley Port depot will determine whether further action is warranted. Until those findings are available, the 18 arrests represent an enforcement operation and an ongoing inquiry—not proof that every worker detained, or DPD itself, has committed an offence.

What is already clear is that the parcel delivery sector faces closer scrutiny than before, and businesses will be expected to demonstrate that they take their immigration compliance obligations seriously.