Six Chinese nationals have been detained by the Australian Border Force after being discovered in the remote Western Australian community of Kalumburu. The group arrived by sea, prompting an investigation by border authorities.
The incident began when an off-duty police officer spotted two men about 12 kilometers north of Kalumburu on Monday. The men were part of a larger group of six, all of whom were later located and medically assessed as being in good health.
Kalumburu resident Esther Waina expressed shock at the discovery, noting that the strangers stood out in the Indigenous community. “We were very scared — how did a group of strangers arrive on our land?” she said. Waina reported that community members saw Asian men walking from a boat landing on Monday.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described the search efforts, saying authorities worked through the night with navy and army personnel. He witnessed the transfer of the men to an ABF boat, where they were given life jackets and taken to a mothership for processing.
Police Minister Reece Whitby confirmed the men are Chinese nationals who arrived by boat. “It is the responsibility of the Australian Border Force to protect our borders,” he said, praising the off-duty officer who raised the alarm.
The remote location of Kalumburu, about 3,000 kilometers north of Perth, is accessible only by a dirt track that was recently deluged by Cyclone Fina. The ABF has declined to comment on operational matters.
