Sydney Operation Nets 5 Illegals
Media Release - DPS 66/2002
The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today that four unlawful non-citizens, and one individual breaching visa conditions had been detained, following a compliance operation in Sydney. A sixth man escaped.
Officers from DIMIA questioned over 30 individuals before identifying the six South Korean men, who were all working illegally in the building industry at an industrial estate in Baulkham Hills.
During the compliance operation two of the individuals attempted to escape, one of those was immediately recaptured, but the other managed to get away.
All those detained will be transferred to the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney.
The men 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.
9 September 2002
Media inquiries: Public Affairs (02) 6264 2244