Aussie police ask help over migrants

BOGOR (JP): Australian police have asked for the help of Bogor Regional Police in preventing Middle Eastern migrants illegally entering the country through the West Java port of Pelabuhan Ratu, an official said on Thursday.

Bogor Regional Police chief Col. Edi Darnadi said two officers from the Australian police force had recently paid a visit and asked the Indonesian Police to help stop the flow of illegal Middle Eastern migrants, who they said often committed criminal offenses in Australia.

"They said thousands of Middle Eastern migrants have thronged Australia in the past couple of years and they have had difficulties in handling them," Edi said, adding that Bogor Police have netted 15 illegal migrants since last December.

"We will do the best we can to help. Our intelligence officers in Bogor, Sukabumi and Pelabuhan Ratu have already been ordered to monitor this case," he added. (24/edt)