Border Force deport, detain and stopped 229 illegal foreign workers in six-week nationwide hunt

EXCLUSIVE: More than 500 illegal workers have been deported, detained and stopped at the border as part of a crackdown on cheap foreign labour.

• Border Force raids net 27 illegal farm workers

MORE than 500 illegal foreign workers have been booted out of Australia, detained or stopped at the border following a nationwide crackdown on illegal labour-hire syndicates.

During the six-week sting, 229 foreigners were caught working illegally in Australia while on a holiday visa.

The blitz on shady businesses sourcing cheap labour from overseas — called Operation Bonasus — also stopped 300 would-be workers from entering Australia.

Most of the illegal workers came from Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Vietnam and were illegally working on farms or in the retail and hospitality industry.

Border Force agents keep watch over illegal foreign workers caught in a NSW raid.

The majority of the illegal workers have now been removed from Australia and others are assisting the Australia Border Force (ABF) officers with ongoing inquiries.

Many of the illegal workers arrived in Australia on Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas — visitor visas — which allow travellers to stay in Australia for up to three months with no work rights. More than 100 workers caught up in the sting were working in NSW and were caught in raids on shops and restaurants in the Sydney suburbs of Campsie, Auburn, Lidcombe, Berala, Burwood.

ABF officers also raided properties in regional NSW towns including Griffith were 10 foreign workers were detained and police uncovered stolen passports and evidence of money laundering.

Another 52 illegal foreign workers were caught in Victorian following raids in Melbourne and farming centres including Mildura and Shepparton where officers detained 20 illegal workers from Malaysia and Indonesia.

A Border Force raid in NSW discovers a room used as cramped sleeping quarters for illegal foreign workers.

In Queensland, police found 26 illegal workers in Brisbane, Bundaberg and in the far north-Queensland town of Mareeba where 14 illegal workers were deported following a pre-dawn blitz.

As part of Operation Bonasus, AFP officers also raided dozens of strawberry farms near Perth and detained more than 30 illegal foreign workers.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Government will not tolerate anyone involved in visa fraud or exploiting foreign workers.

“This type of illegal activity impacts on genuine workers including Australians looking for work which is unacceptable,” Mr Dutton said.

“It’s up to employers to ensure their workers are employed legally and those who don’t will be tracked down and face penalties”.

Illegal foreign workers are interviewed by Border Force agents during a raid in NSW.

Instead of just targeting the illegal workers, AFP officers focused their operation on agents who organising visas and offer flights to Australia for people to work illegally and send money offshore.

Dodgy labour hire firms involved in visa fraud could face penalties of up to 10 years’ in prison and fines of up to $210,000.

There is y very little data about how many people are working illegally in Australia. An estimate in 2011 reviewing the Migration Amendment (Employer Sanctions) Act 2007, referred to between 50,000 and 100,000 unlawful migrant workers.