Kupang (Antara NTT) - The East Nusa Tenggara provincial police has detained 41 Vietnamese illegal migrants stranded in Tablolong waters, Kupang district.
"We arrested them after receiving a report from the Tablolong residents, who were suspicious of a motorboat carrying tens of people and stranded in the waters," director of the water police at the provincial police, Senior Commissioner Budi Santoso said here on Thursday night.
The 41 Vietnamese illegal migrants include five children aged less than five years, he said. Based on the preliminary results of questioning, the illegal migrants were stranded in the waters en route to New Zealand, he said.
"While on their way to New Zealand, they ran short of fuel and food," he said. The Vietnamese illegal migrants are being held in custody at the water police station in Bolok village, East Nusa Tenggara, an Antara journalist observed.
The water police is expected to hand over the illegal migrants to the immigration authorities in Kupang, capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, on Friday.
"For the time being, they are being detained here. We also provide them with food including noodle, egg, mineral water and rice," he said.
E Nusa Tenggara Water Police Detains 41 Vietnamese Illegal Migrants
The East Nusa Tenggara provincial police has detained 41 Vietnamese illegal migrants stranded in Tablolong waters, Kupang district.(Foto ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha)
"We arrested them after receiving a report from the Tablolong residents, who were suspicious of a motorboat carrying tens of people and stranded in the waters," Budi Santoso said.
