121 Illegal Immigrants Caught Planning To Cross To Australia

Malang, East Java, July 5 (Antara) - A total of 121 illegal immigrants from several countries in the Arab peninsula and the Middle Eastern region have been caught in Sendangbiru coast in Malang, East Java, preparing to cross to Australia. The chief of the local marine police unit, First Inspector Slamet Prayitno said here on Friday the immigrants from Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey would cross to Australia by boat but the boat was out of order when they were caught by a joint team of policy, army and navy personnel. "They are planning to continue their journey to Australia by boat. Last night they arrived here from Blitar by car," a navy member, second lieutenant assistant Suliadi, said. The chief of the Sumbermanjing Wetan police sector, Adjunct Police Commissioner Farid Fathoni, meanwhile said the illegal immigrants were first detected while walking on the coast of Sendangbiru. "We are trying to send them immediately to the Class I Immigration Office in Malang," he said.