Riza, Sukabumi – Dozens of migrants were stranded on the Sukabumi coast in West Java, causing anxiety among residents as they attempted to enter houses to hide from authorities over the weekend.
The 28 migrants from India, Bangladesh, and Thailand had previously attempted to enter Australia but were intercepted by the coast guard and ordered to return to Indonesia, according to a crew member of the boat that carried them.
A joint team led by the Sukabumi District Police arrested all 28 migrants and two Indonesian citizens who accompanied them, including Muhamad Agus from Samarinda, East Kalimantan.
Agus said they departed for Australia from Cilacap, Central Java, 17 days ago. "A group facilitated their arrival in Cilacap by bus, and from there they sailed to Australia on a wooden boat," Agus said.
It took five days for them to reach the waters near Christmas Island, but they were intercepted by the Australian Coast Guard and detained for 11 days aboard the patrol ship.
"In short, we were eventually given a speedboat and ordered to return to Indonesia," Agus said. He claimed that the speedboat was washed ashore at Tegalbuleud Coast in Sukabumi by a strong current.
Police said the migrants will be handed over to the immigration office for further proceedings.