Illegal sex workers found in Canberra
December 20, 2010

A group of Thai sex workers are in detention after immigration authorities found them illegally employed in two Canberra brothels.

The women were found by Department of Immigration and Citizenship inspectors in Fyshwick at the weekend.

A departmental spokesman said three of the women had been taken to Villawood detention centre in NSW, pending their removal from Australia.

Another two Thai women found working at nearby brothel were also questioned about their visa status.

One was granted a bridging visa and the other was issued with a notice of intention to cancel her visa.

Investigations into how the women came to be working illegally in the Canberra brothels are continuing.

"This operation serves as a warning to individuals and employers that illegal work and breaches of immigration law will not be tolerated," a departmental spokesman said in a statement on Monday.

"It is the responsibility of employers to check with the department that all people they hire have the legal right to work in Australia."

Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation face fines of up to $13,200 and two years' imprisonment for taking on illegal workers, while companies face fines of up to $66,000 per illegal worker.

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