68 Afghans arrested for illegal entry in Banten
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 04/17/2009 3:04 PM
Local police in Cilegon, Banten have arrested 68 Afghan nationals at Tri Murti resort in Anyer for entering Indonesia without travel documents or visas.
"The 68 Afghans will be sent to Banten immigration officers today," Cilegon Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dwi Gunawan told Antara state news agency Friday.
The arrest of the foreigners was made following a tip-off from local people suspicious of the foreigners, who had been staying at the beach resort for several days.
The Afghan nationals would be detained at the Banten immigration office for further investigation, he said.
The Cilegon police had stepped up their patrols in Banten waters as the area is a convenient gateway for illegal immigrants needing a transit point to go on to another country or to stay in Indonesia, he said.
The 68 Afghan citizens said they wanted to go to Australia because their country was ravaged by civil war.
The Cilegon police called on local people to report to the police if they encountered foreigners staying in the area.
Earlier this month, Bogor immigration officers detained 22 Afghan nationals in the Puncak area on suspicion they were illegal immigrants.
Last month, Batam immigration officers detained four illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Afghanistan. (dre)
