VIVAnews – A total of 34 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq tried to flee to Australia through the Indonesian waters. Their attempt was aborted by the joint operation of the Bantul Police, the Navy and Yogyakarta Police at Samas Beach, Bantul, Yogyakarta on Friday, Feb 17.
A fisherman on Samas Beach, Mugari, said the incident started when he received a phone call from someone claimed as a national television reporter last week. Mugari was ordered to prepare a boat because a number of tourists were planning to fish out in the sea.
Thinking that his boat would be chartered by tourists, Mugari then followed the caller’s message. On the scheduled day, three units of L 300 vehicle arrived on Samas Beach with a group of Middle Eastern-looking people. “At that time, the guides urged that the boat immediately left to the sea carrying the illegal immigrants,” he said.
Mugari was suspicious because the ‘tourists’ who were going to fish did not carry any fishing equipment. Moreover, some of the ‘tourists’ were carrying large bags. Mugari who took no chances decided to report the incident to the Bantul Police.
In order to prevent the illegal immigrants from escaping when the Police arrive, a member of the Indonesian Navy, Surawal, disguised as a fisherman, and pretended to prepare the engine and fuel tank to transport the immigrants out to sea.
Moments later, the Police arrived and arrested the 34 illegal immigrants. They were then detained at the Bantul Police Headquarters.
Bantul Police Chied, AKP Sutikno, explained that his team has recorded the illegal immigrants’ data. The illegal immigrants consisted of two children, one female adult, and 31 male adults. “After a thorough examination, we will send all immigrants to the Immigration Office in Yogyakarta,” said Sutikno.
This was not the first case of illegal immigrants sought for refuge. The previous case even took lives of several immigrants when the boat that carried around 200 illegal immigrants drowned in Prigi Waters, Trenggalek, East Java, last Dec 16. The case involved several military members.
