Kupang (Antara Bali) - Immigration officers in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, have arrested some 900 illegal immigrants from Middle Eastern countries, who were headed for Australia, this year.
The head of the local immigration office, Silvester Sili Laba, stated here on Thursday that the biggest arrest was made in June, when 87 illegal immigrants were arrested in Sumba waters.
He said all the illegal immigrants were held at the immigration detention centre, but 11 of them had escaped and were still at large.
"For the immigrants from Middle Eastern countries as well as from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the East Nusa Tenggara waters offer the safest transit route to Australia, which is their dreamland of freedom and hope," Silvester noted.
He said East Nusa Tenggara was considered an ideal transit route because Australia was just a short boat ride from the province.(IGT/T007)
