Banten Police Detain 71 Illegal Iranian Immigrants

Lebak, Banten, June 2 (Antara) - Police of Banten detained 71 illegal Iranian immigrants who were heading to Christmas Island through Binuangeun waters, Lebak District, Banten. "The 71 illegal immigrants are now under the custody by the people smuggling division of Banten Police," Chief of Binuangeun Sector Police Office Briptu Agus Firman said on Tuesday. The illegal immigrants were stranded on Deli Island, Binuangeun waters, after their boat capsized due to high waves of Sunda Strait on Monday. Some sailing local fishermen, then, helped and evacuated the illegal immigrant to Deli Island while waiting for officers from Water Police and Navy. The immigrants consist of 52 males, 14 females, four children and one baby. The Binuangeun water is known as a route for illegal immigrants from the Middle East to get political asylum in Australia. "We have arrested such illegal immigrants here," Firman said.