13 Dec 2010

Four arrested for people smuggling

9:03 am on 13 December 2010

Indonesian police have arrested four men on suspicion of trying to smuggle 77 illegal immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan to Australia by boat.

The Antara news agency says they will be charged with breaking immigration regulations.

Indonesia has no law against people-smuggling even though it is one of the main transit routes for migrants trying to reach Australia.

Fifty two men, 13 women and 12 children were intercepted by police off eastern Java last week after the engine of their boat failed and they drifted for about eight hours.