Police Detains 106 Illegal Rohingya Migrants

Garut, W Java, Nov 18 (Antara) - The Garut Resort Police has detained at least 106 illegal migrants from the Rohingya province of Myanmar who wanted to cross to Australia through the southern waters of the Garut district in the West Java Province. "We have secured 106 Rohingya people that wanted to cross to Australia through Indonesian waters," the Chief of Garut Police Senior Commissioner Adjunct Arif Rachman said on Monday. The immigrants` entourage had boarded a tourist bus with the identification number of B 7808 IZ from Jakarta. The police had conducted an inspection of the bus at the Cibalong Sector Police station at 04:00 a.m. on Sunday after a citizen suspected that the bus was carrying illegal immigrants. "We found the bus had been boarded by illegal immigrants after the inspection. We have secured the immigrants in Sector Police station," Arif pointed out. The police added that among the 106 illegal immigrants, 67 were male, 19 female and 20 children. Police officers have handed the illegal immigrants` case to the Tasikmalaya Immigration Office. "We have handed over the custody of these persons to the Tasikmalaya Immigration Office. The Police has only done its duty by securing these illegal immigrants," Arif stated. The Garut police had detained several illegal immigrants crossing to Australia through the Garut Sea in the past. The police have been trying to secure the area along the southern coast of Garut by patrolling in the coastal areas. "The illegal immigrants frequently use the coastal line in Garut for their mission to cross over to Australia. After we receive a tip off, we conduct security operations in a bid to prevent these immigrants," Arif said.