Indonesia arrests 18 migrants bound for Australia

Sukabumi, Indonesia: Indonesian police have arrested 18 migrants who were stranded in the waters off Java island after their boat ran out of fuel as they tried to reach Australia, an official said.

The group from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan had boarded the wooden boat from Pameungpeuk beach in West Java and were heading to Australia´s remote Christmas Island, district immigration chief Filianto Akbar told reporters late Wednesday.

"They intended to go to Christmas Island but their boat ran out of fuel and drifted near a beach in Cianjur district on Wednesday," he said.
"They asked passing fishermen for help, who then informed the police."

Sixteen migrants were taken to an immigration detention centre while two others were still being questioned by police, Akbar said, adding that the boat´s captain and two crew members had also been arrested.