Manhunt under way for 20 suspected illegal immingrants
A DESPERATE search was under way last night for at least 20 suspected illegal immigrants on the run in dense rainforest after a foreign fishing boat ran aground north of Cairns.
Eleven people were yesterday detained, some appearing to be well-dressed as they sat on an isolated beach near the crocodile-infested Daintree River surrounded by Australian Border Force officials and police.
A search was under way for at least 20 others who escaped into nearby mangroves.
In what could be the first test for newly minted Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was famously behind the “stop the boats” campaign, it is understood Queensland Police suspect the people to be illegal immigrants. However, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson would only confirm Border Force was “responding to what we believe to be an illegal fishing vessel”.
The fishing trawler last night remained partially submerged about 150m off the beach of Snapper Island, 18km north of Port Douglas.
It is understood a local fishing boat towed the vessel into deeper water after it was found run aground at the mouth of the world-famous Daintree River yesterday.
The boat could be seen to be heavily loaded with blue barrels used for sea cucumbers on the forward deck, and the entire perimeter of the roof of the trawler gantry was decked out with squid lanterns.
About nine detainees could be seen sitting on the beach, under guard of armed police and ABF officers, next to three police 4WDs.
Police told local fishermen at the site the group had claimed to be asylum seekers and it is understood senior officers were treating them as illegal immigrants, rather than illegal fishers.