Australian authorities have detained eight “unlawful non-citizens” including six Malaysians on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Australian Border Force (ABF) said yesterday three of the detainees are suspected of “higher-level involvement” in worker exploitation and are being detained.

“The remaining five individuals were conditionally released, contingent on their immediate departure from Australia.

“This operation specifically targeted labour-hire intermediaries and employers suspected of exploiting foreign workers.

“Illegal workers are often underpaid and poorly treated, and those facilitating their employment are making significant profits at their expense.

“It also puts legitimate local businesses at a disadvantage,” Anthony Spadavecchia of the ABF enforcement command said.

The other two detainees are Nepali nationals.

The ABF said the arrests were made in Kununurra, in the far north of Western Australia. Spadavecchia added that the ABF received the assistance of the Western Australia Police Force to overcome logistical challenges posed by the remote location.