Australians Detained in South Papua Amid Drug Case Examination, Reportedly flew Without passports or Visas
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Merauke, South Papua – Four Australians are currently detained in Merauke, South papua, after arriving on a small aircraft originating from Queensland, Australia, authorities confirmed Friday. The detention is linked to a suspected drug-related case, and initial investigations reveal the individuals allegedly lacked the necessary passports or visas for entry into the sensitive region.
According to Indonesian authorities, one of the detained individuals was on parole and should not have been near an airport. “Even though that one person was on parole, he should not have been near an airport,” a source within the embassy stated.
Flight Path and Investigation
Flight records indicate the twin-engine Piper aircraft first departed from Cairns, Queensland, at 6:00 AM on November 17th, heading to Coen, a small community approximately 400 kilometers north of Cairns. The plane then left Coen at 8:45 AM, landing in Merauke roughly two hours later.
The aircraft is registered to a Queensland-based company, which confirmed Thursday night that it had sold the plane several months ago. Indonesian immigration headquarters in Jakarta has dispatched investigators to Merauke to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the Australians’ arrival.
“Little is known about the three Australians or their motives for flying to South Papua,” said Sianturi, a spokesperson for Indonesian authorities. ”The case has now caught the attention of immigration headquarters in Jakarta, which was sending investigators on friday.”
echoes of the “Merauke Five” Case
The incident evokes memories of the 2008 case involving five Australians, known as the ”Merauke Five,” who where detained for nine months in Merauke for lacking the required visas and special clearance to enter the region. That case highlighted the strict regulations governing access to this strategically sensitive area of Papua.
All four individuals currently detained remain in Merauke as the investigation continues.
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