Sukabumi Police Foil Attempt To Smuggle 63 Illegal Immigrants

Sukabumi, W Java, Nov 19 (Antara) - Sukabumi police on Tuesday foiled an attempt to smuggle 63 illegal immigrants from the Middle East, allegedly as asylum seekers, to Australia`s Chrismas Island. Dozens of illegal immigrants from Syria and Lebanon were arrested on Girimukti Beach, Ciemas Subdistrict of Sukabumi, at around 10 am. The immigrants included seven children and nine women. The chief of Sukabumi Police Office, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Asep Edi Suheri, said the immigrants arrived at Girimukti Beach using a rented vehicle from Cisarua, Bogor. The police interrogated both the driver and the immigrants. "They were suspected of heading to Christmas Island. Ciemas is considered to be the nearest point for crossing to Australia," Suheri added. Police of Sukabumi have thwarted several previous attempts to smuggle immigrants from Ciemas, he noted. The police are being assisted by the locals in monitoring any suspicious activity in the coastal region to prevent people trafficking.