People-smuggling boat carrying would-be asylum seekers turned back off WA coast

A boat carrying eight people has been intercepted by authorities off the coast of Western Australia and sent back to Indonesia. Australia has now turned back 873 people since Operation Sovereign Borders began in 2013.

Eight potential illegal immigrants have been returned to Indonesia after a people smuggling vessel targeting Australia was intercepted by Australian authorities.

A people-smuggling boat carrying eight would-be asylum seekers has been turned back to Indonesia after being intercepted off the West Australian coast.

The boat was intercepted by authorities off Cape Leveque and turned back to Indonesia.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the interception highlighted the Government’s commitment to stamping out people-smuggling and stopping people risking their lives at sea.

“Illegal maritime travel to Australia is as pointless as it is dangerous. There is zero chance of illegal migration to Australia,’’ he said.

Since the implementation of Operation Sovereign Borders in 2013, Australia has returned 873 people from 38 people-smuggling ventures to their country of origin or departure.

The last attempt at people-smuggling by boat into Australia occurred in August.

This interception occurred in mid-January.

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Mr Dutton released details and photographs of the interception on Monday morning, hours after Labor’s Kristina Keneally released information obtained under Freedom of information laws showing a decrease in the number of patrols by the Australian Border Force’s Cape Class vessels during the 2019 election period.