Wandin North Roadblock Nets Eight Illegals
Media Release - DPS 26/2003
Eight people are being held in immigration detention following a roadblock set up near Wandin North, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today.
Wandin North, east of Melbourne is a gateway to fruit and vegetable farms and the roadblock took place in a triangle of roads formed by the Warburton Highway, Clegg Road and Union Road. It was decided to set up the roadblock following a similar operation conducted at Chirnside Park on 26 February, which resulted in the location of 14 unlawful non-citizens who were working illegally on surrounding farms.
Yesterday's joint DIMIA and Victorian Police roadblock located eight people who are in Australia illegally and working despite having no legal right to do so. The group includes one man from the People's Republic of China, one man from Malaysia, three men and one woman from Vietnam and two women from Thailand. They will be held at the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre until arrangements are made for their removal from Australia as is required by law.
The roadblock stopped 33 vehicles, involving 13 buses and 20 motor cars and was conducted from 6.00am to 9.00am Wednesday morning (26 March). The immigration status of 145 people was checked.
From 1 July 2002 to 31 January 2003, the Department has found 326 people working illegally in Victoria.
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 nationally. The number of locations
has increased significantly since 2000-01, when 14,238 overstayers
and people breaching visa conditions were detained.
27 March 2003
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