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andung Police arrested 123 illegal immigrants from Iran that were staying overnight in two villas in Ciwidey, Bandung regency, West Java, while waiting to be dispatched to Australia by a boat from Cijayanti Beach, Cianjur regency.
"Those foreign citizens were arrested on Wednesday under the supervision of Bandung Police as well as the immigration office," West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara News Agency.
The police were arresting the immigrants based on the report of the local people which were suspicious with the large number of Middle Eastern people who stay overnight in the villas, namely Vila Sely and Vila Kunt.
"The police also arrested an accomplice, or 'the smuggler', initialled as JP, who took a role as a coordinator for managing their way to Australia," Martinus said, adding the police had set JP, 47, as a suspect.
According to Martinus, the illegal immigrants are going to go to Australia by a small boat on Cijayanti Beach and then switch to a large vessel in the middle of the sea.
"As of Thursday afternoon, the immigrants were still arrested in the villas by the police officer. Afterwards, they will be handled by the immigration officer," he added. (fan)