The National Police’s Water Police division arrested 18 illegal immigrants on early Friday in the waters off Dumai, Riau.
The immigrants, consisting of 15 Afghans, with the rest being Pakistanis, were caught by a KP Puyuh 647 patrol boat and were on board a double-engine speedboat about 1 mile off Dumai.
The Dumai Water Police chief, Adj. Comr. Wilson, said the immigrants had come from Malaysia and were intentionally smuggled into Indonesian territory through Dumai.
“They are just transiting here, their end destination is Australia,” he said when contacted from Pekanbaru.
He added all immigrants were being questioned and identified by the Dumai Water Police and would soon be handed over to the local immigration office after receiving confirmation from their respected diplomatic missions.
“They are not being arrested. Although they entered Indonesia illegally, they are not criminals. We are treating them well and providing decent places for them,” he said.
“Perhaps they left their countries due to conflicts and were looking for protection.”
The National Water Police have also arrested the speedboat’s two Indonesian crews but Wilson could not yet reveal the charges against them.
“The dossiers have yet to be submitted to the Dumai Water Police,” he said. (nvn)
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