Illegal workers netted in nationwide raids

Immigration officers have detained 38 illegal workers following nationwide raids on businesses and homes.

The workers are mostly Malaysian men, and include two labour-hire contractors.

Six have been working in breach of visa conditions and 32 are unlawful non-citizens.

The raids were conducted across all states, at 11 businesses and 12 residences.

In one sting at a big vegetable packing plant in Queensland's Lockyer Valley, authorities detained 22 illegal workers who will be deported.

Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash says the raids, conducted early on Wednesday morning, also netted important intelligence for further investigation.

Acting Customs and Border Protection chief executive Michael Outram confirmed three of the businesses had been the subject of a recent Four Corners program.

He said intelligence collected during the raids would be used to set up a new task force, with the Fair Work Ombudsman to tackle the issue of illegal workers and worker exploitation.