Operation Nets 22 Illegals in Hunter Region
Media Release - DPS 54/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today that twenty two unlawful non-citizens had been located, in the Hunter region of New South Wales last week
Staff from DIMIA's Parramatta office, located thirteen men and nine woman who were in Australia unlawfully.
The members of the group were found at residential addresses and places of employment in the Hunter region.
Of the group, fourteen have been detained at the Villawood Immigration and Detention Centre.
The group consisted of eight Koreans, one Egyptian, one UK resident, five people from Thailand, one woman from the Philippines, one Syrian national, two Indonesians, two Malaysians and one Canadian.
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 the 2001-02 financial year the Department located 17,307 overstayers
and people breaching visa conditions. 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.
5 August 2002
Media inquiries: Public Affairs 02 6264 2244