BORDER PROTECTION COMMAND INTERCEPTS VESSEL

18 December 2009

Border Protection Command today successfully intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel.

HMAS Launceston, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted the vessel at approximately 2:21pm (AEDST) 8 nautical miles north west of Ashmore Islands.

The vessel was identified by a Customs and Border Protection Dash 8 aircraft, under the control of Border Protection Command.

Initial indications suggest there are 55 passengers and 4 crew on board the vessel.

Australia is proactively working with our neighbours, through bilateral cooperation and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, to address this most serious issue.

People smuggling is a global and regional problem. According to the UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report, there were 42 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2008, including 15.2 million refugees.

The Australian Government has committed more than $654 million to implementing a comprehensive people smuggling strategy to combat this issue. The Government has expanded its presence in the region with the Australian Federal Police, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service recently setting up or expanding liaison posts devoted to deterring irregular migration.

Agencies are working closely with their counterparts in country exchanging and gathering information, and strengthening our regional capacity to mitigate irregular migration to Australia. Our strengthened offshore approach is working. In the last 12 months there have been 90 disruptions of people smuggling ventures in Indonesia, and the arrest of 40 people smuggling organisers.

The group will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo security, identity and health checks as well as establish their reasons for travel.

Media Contact:
Brian Humphreys 0438 595 567 or
Customs and Border Protection media (02) 6275 6793