A 51-year-old Malaysian woman and a 40-year-old Malaysian man, along with a 48-year-old Thai citizen, were detained after the Australian Border Force (ABF) raided a property in South Australia on Aug 2.

All three had overstayed their visas. ABF officers, in cooperation with South Australian police, also confiscated A$22,700 from the house in Naracoorte.

ABF Field Operations officers began investigating the Thai man and Malaysian woman after receiving serious allegations of people working in breach of visa conditions in the agricultural sector.

Commander James Copeman from ABF’s Enforcement Command said in a statement that all three are being held in detention pending removal from Australia.

“This operation specifically targeted labour hire intermediaries, their contractors 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.”

“The exploitation of foreign workers can have an ongoing negative impact on Australian communities and individuals. The ABF is committed to tackling illegal worker exploitation in Australia’s regional and metropolitan areas,” commander Copeman said.

Investigations into labour hire intermediaries, their contractors and the movement of significant amounts of currency in the region are continuing.

Last June, Australian site SBS News reported that Malaysians make up the largest number of overstayers in Australia.

Between 2016 and 2017, 10,000 Malaysians overstayed their visas according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs.