Indonesian officials say they have detained a group of 41 Afghan asylum seekers suspected of trying to reach Australia.Harry Purwanto, head of the Banten immigration office, says police caught the group of Afghan men early Sunday when they were boarding a fishing boat off Carita beach in central Indonesia.
He says the group will be transferred to an immigration detention center in Jakarta after being identified.
Indonesia has become a major transit point for people fleeing countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka.
On Thursday, authorities stopped another group of 61 Afghans on a fishing boat off the eastern coast who were heading for Australia. Two were shot in the hand and foot when they tried to escape from police.
Videos
Post your feedback
