19 Jan 2011

Prison sentences for people smugglers

9:32 am on 19 January 2011

A group of Indonesian men has been sentenced in the Northern Territory Supreme Court to prison for smuggling more than 100 Afghani asylum seekers into Australia.

In April last year, the six brought two boatloads of Afghanis into Australian waters.

The ABC reports the boats were intercepted by the Australian Navy.

On Tuesday in Darwin, four of the crew were sentenced on Tuesday to five years in prison , with a non-parole period of three years.

Two men, who captained the boats, received higher sentences.

Chief Justice Trevor Riley said the offences were a serious violation of Australian sovereignty.