Mataram,,,,Police Air Police of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) arrested dozens of immigrants in the Alas Strait, Sumbawa, NTB, Saturday (2/6). Immigrants are planning to seek asylum in Australia.
A total of 70 immigrants are a mix of Vietnam and the Middle East. Currently, as many as 50 immigrants from Vietnam are accommodated in a guesthouse in Mataram. The 20 immigrants from Afghanistan remain in East Lombok Mapolres.
The immigrants had been due to cross into the waters of Australia by Indonesian-flagged fishing boat. During 2012, the Police NTB has five times the illegal immigrants who want to secure the crossing Indonesian waters without permission.