26 Afghan immigrants arrested in Deli Serdang

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Twenty-six immigrants from Afghanistan were arrested in a house in Tembung district in Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra.

Medan city police chief, Sr. Comr. Imam Margono said the illegal immigrants were arrested following a report from a resident.

All of them, he said, were still being questioned at the police station following Saturday night's arrest. They would later be handed to the immigration office.

He said that based on preliminary information, they had entered Deli Serdang through Tanjung Balai waters Saturday morning.

"When arrested, none could show legal documents for entering the country."

One of the arrested immigrants, Zaki, said they had left their hometown for security reasons.

He said they were only in transit, as they waited to receive recognition as immigrants from the UN or the International Organization for Migration. - JP