Illegal farm workers targeted in Victoria

Buses carrying farm workers in regional Victoria have been stopped and inspected by the immigration department and Victoria Police.

One worker was found to be an unlawful non-citizen.

Assistant Immigration Minister Senator Michaelia Cash said the operation also netted intelligence into a suspected labour hire scam operating in the Gippsland region.

"There is no place in our community for employers, or contractors, who mistreat foreign workers or profit from underpaying them and we will actively pursue prosecution and heavy fines," Ms Cash said in a statement.

The buses were stopped on Thursday on the South Gippsland Highway near Longford.

Employers face fines of $76,500 per illegal worker.