Operation Nets Nine Illegals in Victoria
Media Release - DPS 57/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today that nine unlawful non-citizens have been detained, following a compliance operation last night in Robinvale, Victoria.
Staff from DIMIA, located six women and three men, who were all Thai nationals and in Australia unlawfully. Members of the group were believed to be working illegally in the local area.
All those detained were found at a residential address in Robinvale.
The unlawful non-citizens were detained overnight by local authorities and were transferred to the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre in Melbourne today.
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 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.
13 August 2002
Media inquiries: Public Affairs (02) 6264 2244