A licensed immigration consultant is the first to be arrested in an investigation into the exploitation of more than 140 Indian and Bangladeshi migrants on work visas.
The workers were paid between $20,000 and $40,000 for non-existent jobs and were found living in overcrowded and unhygienic accommodation in Auckland.
The consultant’s business and home were raided by police and Immigration New Zealand.
The individual faces two charges of providing false information.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.
Investigations are underway into other people linked to the case.
The Immigration Advisors Authority refused to disclose how many licensed immigration advisors are currently under investigation in relation to work visa fraud involving accredited employers.
“We will not be commenting further while investigations are ongoing so as not to prejudice or undermine our investigations,” said an IAA spokesperson.
