Immigration compliance officers located 14 illegal workers today in a roadside interception outside the Queensland town of Stanthorpe.

The workers, all Indonesian, had been working illegally in the horticulture industry. All 14 had overstayed their visas and were unlawfully in the community.

Of the 14 located, 12 – five women and seven men – have been transferred to detention accommodation in Brisbane and will be removed from Australia as soon as possible.

The remaining two men have been granted bridging visas to make their own arrangements to depart Australia.

Investigations into the circumstances of their employment are ongoing, including possible links to labour hire contractors.

“This successful result follows the record operation in Victoria last week that uncovered 90 people who were working illegally in Australia,” a departmental spokesperson said.

In last week’s joint operation between Victoria and South Australia compliance officers, 85 people were detained; 73 of whom were unlawful non-citizens and 12 of whom had their tourist visas cancelled for working illegally.

In the Stanthorpe operation, Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) officers and Queensland police acted on community information regarding illegal workers in the horticulture industry.

DIAC encourages employers to check employees’ work entitlements.

Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.

People with information about illegal workers or visa overstayers are encouraged to call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.