Border Protection Command today successfully intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel.

Australian Customs Vessel Holdfast Bay, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted the vessel during the early morning of the 7th of March , north west of Adele Island.

Initial indications suggest 28 passengers and two crew are on board the vessel.

Situations around the world mean that large numbers of displaced persons are looking for settlement and can be targeted by, and fall prey to, people smugglers.

According to the UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report, there were 42 million displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2008, including 15.2 million refugees.

People smuggling is not just an issue for Australia – it is a global and regional problem. The commitment of our neighbours, through bilateral cooperation and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, is critical to addressing this most serious issue.

The Australian Government has an orderly and planned migration program and places a high priority on protecting Australia’s borders from irregular maritime arrivals by maintaining an effective and visible tactical response program of aerial, land and sea-based patrols. Border Protection Command uses a combination of Customs and Border Protection and Defence assets to deliver a coordinated national response to security threats in Australia’s maritime domain.

The Government remains vigilant and committed to protecting Australia’s borders and today’s successful interception demonstrates the effectiveness of the proactive response program in place.

The group will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo security, identity and health checks and their reasons for travel will be established.