... were caught after their boat leaked on their way to Christmas Island in Australia... "Serang, Banten (ANTARA News) - The Banten provincial water police caught 80 illegal immigrants from Iran and Myanmar in the waters off Peucang island on Thursday.
The immigrants were caught after their boat leaked on their way to Christmas Island in Australia, director of the water police Snr. Comr. Budi Hermawan said.
Budi said the immigrants who were caught at 01.40 p.m. local time would be taken to Sumur sub-district by a police patrol boat. From the sub-district, they would be taken to the temporary detention center in the Banten provincial capital of Serang by buses.
The southern part of the Sunda Strait has been a favorable way for illegal immigrants particularly from the Middle East to seek asylum in Australia. Most of them fled their country to avoid inter-ethnic conflict.
Earlier, the police also foiled an attempt of illegal immigrants from Nigeria and Sudan to reach Australia in the Bagedur waters in Lebak district, Banten province.
They were caught while waiting for a boat that would carry them to Christmas Island.
Indonesia and Australia have worked closely to prevent people smuggling as part of a defense treaty they signed in Lombok island, West Nusa Tenggara province, in 2006. The treaty was later known as the Lombok Treaty.
(S012)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
