Alarm as 30 asylum seekers end up on an 'undetected' boat and found on the side of the road near a popular tourist town
- Asylum seekers found wandering in Broome, WA
- It concerns thirty men, probably from Pakistan and Bangladesh
An investigation has been launched after 30 asylum seekers were found on the side of the road near Broome after arriving illegally by boat.
Beagle Bay is a small community approximately 128 km north of Broome in Western Australia
Residents of the Beagle Bay Indigenous community, about 128km north of Broome, told the ABC that 30 men, believed to be from Pakistan and Bangladesh, were looking for shade in bushes on Cape Leveque Road about 10am on Friday.
They reportedly took them to Beagle Bay, 128 km north of Broome.
The men were reportedly in good health, dressed in T-shirts and trousers, and were given water at the local shop when temperatures rose above 32 degrees Celsius.
No boat has been found in the area, but authorities are investigating the possibility that the group was dropped off by an Indonesian fisherman.
Anthony Albanese told reporters he had no information about it.
“I traveled by car, so I was not informed about that,” he said.
“But our policy is clear, which is that boats that arrive in that way … we have a policy that will ensure that this is dealt with.”
Some men are depicted in a park
Australian Border Force authorities have arrived in the remote town to investigate.
'The ABF is conducting an operation in the north west of Western Australia. As this operation is ongoing, no further information will be provided,” a spokesperson said.
'Australia's strict border protection policy means that no one who travels unauthorized by boat will ever be allowed to settle permanently in Australia.
'The only way to travel to Australia is legally, with an Australian visa
The spokesperson said Australia remains committed to protecting its borders, eradicating people smuggling and preventing vulnerable people from risking their lives on pointless journeys.
Authorities are investigating whether the group was dropped off by Indonesian fishermen after no boats were discovered in the area
The temperature in Beagle Bay rose above 32 degrees Celsius on Friday
Beagle Bay has approximately 348 inhabitants
“The human trafficking business model is based on exploiting information and selling lies to vulnerable people who will give up everything to risk their lives at sea,” they said.
It comes after 12 asylum seekers were found at Truscott-Mungalalu air base in the Kimberley region in November.
The group, from Pakistan, was quickly arrested and flown to Nauru by the Australian Border Force.
They reportedly paid $15,250 each for the trip from Indonesia, with authorities believing they had been ripped off by fishermen after no boats were found in the area.
More to come.