The real sea patrol in action

01 October 2009

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

HMAS Albany and HMAS Maitland, both operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted the vessel at approximately 2:17am (AEST) on 1 October 2009 approximately 23 nautical miles north-north west of Browse Island.

The vessel was initially sighted by a Customs and Border Protection Dash 8 aircraft, under the control of BPC.

Initial indications suggest 67 passengers are on board the vessel. The Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, said that Australia is committed to addressing people smuggling.

“Since September 2008, the AFP has charged 48 people with offences under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) relating to people smuggling, including 44 alleged crew members and four alleged Australian based organisers. These offences attract a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment,” Mr O’Connor said.

“We must also remember that 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. Australia is committed to 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” Mr O’Connor said.

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.