Two people have been arrested after an immigration raid at a nail salon.

Zuly Nails on Crosby Street in Maryport was targeted in a joint operation between Cumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Immigration Enforcement.

Two Vietnamese people have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

It was part of a major operation targeting modern day slavery and illegal immigration in Allerdale.

A spokesman for Immigration Enforcement said: “Immigration Enforcement, in conjunction with the National Crime Agency, Cumbria Constabulary and other partner agencies, conducted a number of visits in Cumbria in relation to reports of modern day slavery and illegal immigration.

“On a visit to a salon, a Vietnamese female was encountered and arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. She will be dealt with according to the immigration rules.

“A Civil Penalty Referral Notice was also served on the business for employing individuals without the right to work.

“On a second visit to an associated residential address, a Vietnamese male was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. He will be dealt with according to the immigration rules.”

A spokesman for Allerdale police said: “A multi-agency operation to target labour exploitation within Allerdale has been carried out by police, the National Crime Agency and Immigration enforcement.

“The operation was intelligence led into exploitation around the area, by visiting a number of business premises, targeting people who exploit workers and vulnerable people, identifying victims of exploitation and modern slavery and safeguarding them.”

Mark Jenkinson, Workington MP, said: "It's a problem we've seen on a couple of occasions.

"People trafficking and keeping people in conditions that are tantamount to modern slavery is abhorrent.

"I'm glad to see action being taken and anyone with any information on this or any other similar cases shouldn't hesitate to report them."

He added: "People should use legal routes to prevent the more sinister aspect of modern slavery. People are literally dying on unauthorised routes to come to Britain.

"We need to be much firmer on those unauthorised routes while allowing legal routes for people to make applications."

Guidance on how to report and spot the signs of human trafficking and modern day slavery can be found at: www.cumbria.police.uk/Advice-Centre/Personal-Safety/Human-Trafficking-as-Modern-Day-Slavery.aspx