JAKARTA, Nov 3: Indonesia has intercepted 20 Afghans and Pakistanis in a boat off western Java who were planning to illegally enter Australia’s Christmas Island, police said on Monday.

“A wooden fishing boat transporting 12 Afghans and eight Pakistanis was intercepted early Sunday off Banten province in West Java.

“They don’t have any official papers,” police spokesman Abubakar Nataprawira said.

He said the illegal immigrants were hoping to find jobs in Australia.—AFP