Cianjur, W Java (ANTARA News) - Dozens of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, allegedly seeking asylum to Australia, were arrested by Cianjur police on Sunday.

Patrol police officers made the arrest after they were suspicious of four minibuses passing on Dr.Muwardi Street in Cianjur, West Java.

The police officers stopped one of the minibuses and found six immigrants from Myanmar escorted by some residents of Garut district.

They later chased the other three minibuses which tried to run away, and found dozens of other Myanmar immigrants.

A total of 30 illegal immigrants from Myanmar, consisting of 26 men and four women, were arrested and taken to the Cianjur police station.

"Soon after we have identified the asylum seekers, we will send them to the Sukabumi Immigration Office. They were arrested while passing through the Cianjur jurisdiction on four minibuses," chief of the Cianjur police station Adj Snr Comr Dedy Kusuma Bakti said.

The illegal immigrants were suspected of seeking asylum by crossing to Christmas Island from the southern coast of Java such as Garut, Tasikmalaya and Ciamis.

reported by :Ahmad Fikri
(A059/C/S012)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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