REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- The authorities caught 13 illegal Afghan immigrants in a raid in the mountainous sub-district of Puncak, Bogor , on Tuesday (9/12).

The illegal immigrants including four women were picked up from a number of boarding houses in the village of Citeko, Cisarua.

They had no passport or official documents from the UNHCR to state that they are seeking asylum, an immigration officer said.

"We took them to the immigration office for questioning. They could be deported as they have no official documents," head of the Bogor immigration office Herman Lukman said.

The raid had been launched jointly by the Cisarua sub-district officials , police and the military.

Based on data at the Bogor Immigration Office , in 2012 , there were 380 foreign nationals staying at Puncak mountainous resort area including children, women and men.

"We are taking latest data about the foreign residents in Puncak and at the same time dealing with the illegal immigrants. We received report of illegal immigrants from local people," Herman said.

In addition to the 134 illegal immigrants, there are four other Afghans holding proper documents found in the raid.

Herman said the 13 illegal immigrants had been in Puncak only shortly. They left Afghanistan by air to Malaysia and from Malaysia to Indonesia, and directly went to Puncak.

"They left their country beset by conflict . Their ultimate destination is Australia," he said.

Earlier 19 Moroccan women were arrested in a similar raid working as prostitutes in the mountainous resort.

The authorities would tighten control of foreign visitors staying in boarding houses in Puncak as their presence had caused inconvenience among the local people.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika