Australia intercepts suspected people smuggling vessels with nearly 150 people on board

2010-11-02 13:44:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

SYDNEY (BNO NEWS) -- The Australian Border Protection Command on Tuesday afternoon intercepted two suspected people smuggling vessels carrying nearly 150 people, authorities said.

ACV Ocean Protector, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted two vessels east and southeast off Christmas Island. One of the vessels was carrying 80 passengers, while the other was carrying 62 passengers.

The groups were transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo security, identity and health checks and their reasons for travel will be established.

And while their nationality has not yet been confirmed, their claims will not be considered for at least three or six months if the asylum seekers are Sri Lankans or Afghans due to a processing suspension introduced by the Australian government earlier this year.

This suspension was introduced because of the evolving circumstances in these two countries. The Australian Government believes that asylum seekers should only be granted the right to live in Australia if they are genuinely in need of protection.

Last Wednesday, the HMAS Glenelg intercepted another vessel northwest of the Ashmore Islands. That ship was carrying 25 passengers and four crew members, who were also transferred to Christmas Island.

The vessel was initially detected by a Customs and Border Protection Dash 8 surveillance aircraft, operating under the control of Border Protection Command.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-02

Good on the Australians for taking a bite of the human smuggling ring. I had a chuckle at the mention of the Dash 8. It's a small twin prop that used to be manufactured by De Havilland Canada. Not very big and a bit lonesome to be flying out over the ocean.