Operation Nets 17 Illegals in Marrickville, Sydney
Media Release - DPS 29/2002
Seventeen people have been detained following a joint compliance operation today involving the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) and NSW Police in Marrickville, Sydney.
Acting on community information, DIMIA officers and NSW Police visited a number of premises including furniture, clothing and food preparation factories.
Eleven people were found to be in Australia unlawfully while a further six were located working in breach of their visa conditions.
The 17 people, who have been detained at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, included 13 men and four women.
The group comprised three men from the People's Republic of China, three men and one woman from Indonesia, two women from the Philippines, one Malaysian male, two male and one female Vietnamese nationals and four males yet to be identified.
The group will remain in detention while arrangements are made for their departure from Australia, as required by law.
DIMIA officers make regular visits to workplaces in many parts of Australia, such as restaurants, farms, shops, offices, factories and brothels, in an effort to detect and locate people who are in the country illegally or who are working illegally. DIMIA may also issue warning notices to employers or labour suppliers who are found to have employed illegal workers.
In 2000-2001, 14,238 people were located by DIMIA. This includes people lawfully in Australia who were found working in breach of their visa conditions as well as people who were unlawfully in the country.
17 May 2002
For more information contact DIMIA Public Affairs,
02 6264 2244
(AH) 0419 442 000