Kupang detains smugglers

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Three alleged smugglers of illegal immigrants are still in custody at the local immigration office following their capture two weeks ago.

Antara identified the three as Malaysians Zet Husein bin Zet Ali, 39, and Abdullah Hamid bin Sira, 47, and Singaporean Wong Pok Peng, 46.

They allegedly had been trying to smuggle 16 immigrants from China, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan to Australia. The attempt was foiled by the local police.

All the illegal immigrants have been sent to the Jakarta Immigration Office to be questioned prior to deportation.

Head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Justice, Kardono, said the authorities captured the illegal immigrants on the nearby small island of Semau on April 12 when they were trying to sail to Australia using a fishing boat.

They captured the three alleged smugglers at the El Tari Airport upon their arrival from Australia several days later. (byg)