POLICE ARREST 10 AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS

Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara, May 24 (ANTARA) - Police in West Nusa Tenggara province have arrested 10 Afghan illegal immigrants believed to travel to Australia as their final destination.

The Afghan immigrants were arrested in their hideouts at Selumbung hamlet in Jerowaru subdistrict, Lombok Timur district, on Sunday afternoon, West Nusa Tenggara provincial police spokesman Adjunct Chief Commissioner Sukarman Husein said here on Monday.

He said the police also arrested a local resident on charges of getting involved in a plan to send the Afghan immigrants to the neighboring country illegally.

The police also seized an APV van believed to have been used to carry the immigrants to the hideouts, he said.

The Afghan immigrants were being detained at the provincial police pending the results of discussion with other relevant parties such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), he said.

Earlier, on March 3, the East Lombok police resort also foiled an attempt of departing a total of 67 Afghan illegal immigrants to Australia.