A joint patrol of naval and police officers on Friday thwarted an attempt to illegally smuggle Indonesian migrant workers to Malaysia in Asahan district, North Sumatra.

The illegal migrant workers, comprising 34 men, 17 women, and a child aged under 5, were found aboard a Malaysia-bound motor vessel in Asahan waters, North Sumatra, Commander of the Tanjungbalai Asahan Naval Base, Lt. Col.Robinson Hendrik Etwiory, informed.

“A patrol team of Tanjung Balai Asahan Naval Base and the water police unit of the Asahan district police arrested the tens of people aboard an unnamed motor vessel. They were supposed to be Indonesian migrant workers who were traveling to Malaysia,” he said.

The migrant workers and the skipper of the motor vessel have been sent to the Asahan district police for further legal process, Etwiory added.

Source: Antara News