Sumenep migrants ‘part of trafficking chain to Australia’

Ninety-two people from the Middle East and Somalia arrested last week in Sumenep regency were part of a network transporting illegal immigrants to Australia through Indonesia, according to the police.

East Java Water Police chief Sr. Comr. Anang Syarif Hidayat said Friday that the illegal immigrants allegedly each paid Rp 15 million (US$1,665) to a man named Ahmad to transport them to Australia through Indonesia.

“Ahmad is believed to have a network operating in Bandung [West Java] and Pekanbaru [Riau]. Ahmad himself has long been on the police’s wanted list as he is believed to be a supplier of illegal immigrants from various countries to Australia,” Anang said.

Anang said that Ahmad was an Indonesian citizen between 35 and 40 years of age who spoke fluent Arabic. Ahmad allegedly decided from where the immigrants would depart, how their boats would be equipped and how their boats would travel through Situbondo waters to Australia.

The 92 illegal immigrants — not 77, as previously reported — were arrested by the East Java Water Police after their boat broke down en route from Madura to Australia, stranding them on Kangean Island.

The 59 men, 13 women and 20 children came from Iran, Afghanistan and Somalia, Anang said.

The illegal immigrants were questioned in Sumenep before being handed over to the East Java Police for further processing.

“According to preliminary investigation, most of the immigrants did not have adequate immigration documents from their countries of origin. They argued they were tourists who wanted to travel to Australia by sea, but the police did not believe them,” he said.

The East Java Police have arrested 274 illegal immigrants around Situbondo and Madura waters from March to July, Anang said.