Inp.polri.go.id - Kupang. The Rote Ndao Sub-regional Police in East Nusa Tenggara have detained six Chinese citizens who were stranded in the southern waters of Rote Ndao after being expelled by Australian maritime police while attempting to enter Australian waters.

Rote Ndao Sub-regional Police Chief Superintendent Mardiono confirmed the arrest on Sunday (4/52025), saying, “Yes, we have arrested six Chinese nationals who were stranded in the waters of Rote Ndao.” 

The six Chinese citizens include five men and one woman, identified as You Zhang, Shangeo Li, Yu Zhang, Jun Li, Yousifu Ma, and Yan Ma, according to antaranews.com.

They were reportedly traveling to Australia with the assistance of five Indonesians, who served as the captain and crew of a vessel. The Indonesians, identified as Karno (35), Yosep (45), Terling (31), Sarisi (47), and Sain (57), hail from Southeast Sulawesi.

The group set sail on 24 April 2025, aboard the Sirisi-Pasra 007. They arrived in Australian waters on 29 April 2025, where the Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted and detained the vessel, along with its passengers, due to the lack of passports. The group was held on the ship until 4 May 2025, when they were released and pushed back toward Indonesian waters.

Their vessel was set on fire by the ABF, and the passengers were provided with an unnamed, unflagged, and unregistered fiberglass boat to return to Indonesia. The Indonesian authorities have coordinated with the Kupang Immigration Office for further handling of the six stranded Chinese citizens.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)