Operation Nets Five Illegals in NSW
Media Release - DPS 58/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today that five unlawful non-citizens had been detained, following a compliance operation in Griffith, New South Wales over the past two days.
Staff from DIMIA, located 5 men including 1 Thai National, 2 Indians, 1 Afghan and 1 Fijian who were in Australia unlawfully. Members of the group were believed to be working illegally in the local area.
One of the men has been confirmed as an escapee from the Villawood Detention Centre. The man escaped in July 2001.
All those detained were found at farms and residential locations in Griffith.
The men will be detained by local authorities while awaiting transfer to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney.
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.
15 August 2002
Media inquiries: Public Affairs (02) 6264 2244