POLICE ARREST 10 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM AFGHANISTAN

Jambi, April 20 (ANTARA) - Police in Tanjung Jabung Barat, Jambi province, have arrested 10 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan who had traveled from the province's eastern coast via an obscure route.

Tanjung Jabung Barat police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Dul Alim said here on Monday the 10 illegal immigrants arrived at a spot on Jambi's eastern coast in a speed boat from Bengkalis in Riau and had had intended later to proceed to Jakarta by land.

"They arrived at Kuala Tangkal port on Friday. After being checked none of them possessed a personal document or spoke the Indonesian language," he said.

The Afghans were identified as Azi Sena (20), Muhammad Ali (24), Syed Mustafa (14), Sameer Ahad (13), Naorus Alil (20), Gulam Husein (21), Umed Ali (28), Syed Asgar (17), Syed Amir Shan (17) and Syed Ali Syah (16).

They told police they were in Indonesia only en route to Australia where they wanted to find work.

The police had referred them to the local immigration office for further processing.

"So long as they are not involved in crimes in Indonesia their process of investigation will not lead to court and they will be sent back to their country by the immigration office," he said.

In March 2009, the immigration office of Jambi also nabbed 10 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and they had all been sent back to their country through an immigration office in Riau.