NT Police, Border Force find no trace of reported foreign boat landing on northern coastline

Authorities have found no evidence of another foreign boat arriving in Australia, contradicting reports multiple Chinese nationals landed on a remote stretch of the NT coastline this week.

Authorities have uncovered no evidence of another foreign boat landing on the Top End coastline this week.

Authorities have found no evidence of another foreign boat arriving in Australia, contradicting reports multiple Chinese nationals landed on a remote stretch of the Northern Territory coastline this week.

The reports suggested a vessel made landfall near Maningrida in West Arnhem Land, and that Chinese nationals called triple-0 upon their arrival asking for police assistance.

However this publication understands no trace of the boat or foreign nationals has been found, and reports may have been confused with a group that arrived in a similar area last month.

It is understood Northern Territory police assisted Australian Border Force with extensive land and sea operations in search of the reported boat, which turned up nothing.

A triple-0 call was received, reporting the foreign vessel, but that the call came from interstate.

An Australian Border Force spokeswoman said the organisation did not comment on operational matters.

Northern Land Council, the Aboriginal land council that oversees the Top End coastline, has not reported any arrivals this week.

It is understood local government in the region, West Arnhem Council, was also unaware of any fresh boats.

Foreign vessels found by Northern Land Council rangers earlier this year.

Late last month video emerged of a group of people, believed to be asylum seekers or illegal fishermen, huddled by a pitch black roadside in the remote Top End.

It is understood that group was intercepted and taken into the care of Border Force agents who confirmed them as Chinese nationals.

Earlier in November, four foreigners were rescued in a similar area by local Garngi rangers after being dumped by people smugglers.

Using a translator app, the rescued men told the rangers they were fleeing communist China.

NT Deputy Chief Minister Gerard Maley called on the federal government to do more to stop illegal fishing and people smugglers in Territory waters.