Police Foil Attempt Of Illegal Immigrant Smuggling In Sukabumi

Sukabumi, West Java, July 17 (Antara) - Sukabumi Police on Wednesday foiled a smuggling attempt of 17 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan to Christmas Island, Australia, through Pelabuhanratu waters, Sukabumi, West Java Province. "They are now being detained in Sukabumi Sector Police Office and will be transferred to Sukabumi Custom Office," Chief of Sukabumi Police Office Adjunct Senior Commissioner Asep Edi Suheri said here on Wednesday. The immigrants departed from Bogor using two trucks to Pelabuhanratu. However, their arrival at the beach on Buniwangi Street, Pelabuhanratu Subdistrict, caused suspicion to some local residents that they reported it to the local police. Sukabumi is often used as the gateway for the asylum seekers because it is the closest point to reach Christmas Island. "We are questioning the two truck drivers delivering the illegal immigrants for further investigation and developing this case," Suheri said. Previously in July, ten illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan allegedly seeking for asylum to Australia were also arrested. Seven of them were arrested in Cisolok Terminal, while the other three in Pelabuhanratu Terminal.