ALBANY — New York law-enforcement agencies have begun collecting their one-third portion of a nearly $21 million settlement from a national pallet-recycling company that employed 6,000 illegal aliens in 26 states.

The investigation, which began upstate, was based on a truck driver’s tip and led to April 2006 raids at more than 40 IFCO Systems plants. At least 1,100 people were arrested on immigration charges.

The company settled the federal case in 2008.