Three people were arrested in Melbourne by the Australian Federal Police for alleged migration offences as part of an ongoing Australian Border Force investigation
The AFP- led (AFP) Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) also seized more than $3.7 million in assets rel ated to the investigation.
Two men and one woman appeared in court today charged under the Migration Act 1958 with facilitating employment of unlawful non-citizens and lawful non-citizens with no work rights.
They were also charged with dealing with proceeds of crime.
ABF Commander Investigations, Graeme Grosse, said the arrest follows a 2016 ABF investigation under Taskforce Cadena that saw 61 unlawful non- citizens located and detained and an additional 28 people working at the farm in breach of their visa conditions, totalling 89 people located.
“Evidence gathered during that operation has led to a broader investigation, culminating in today’s arrest of an alleged criminal syndicate that has been profiting from the serious exploitation of foreign workers and Australia’s migration system.
“The ABF and the partner agencies will continue to target foreign worker exploitation and visa fraud by applying the full spectrum of enforcement measures, ranging from education and compliance activities through to criminal prosecution,” Commander Grosse said.
Source: Three-arrested-and-3.7-in-assets-siezed-in-Melbourne.pdf