Police detained 30 Bengalis who illegally entered Ngayokkaung, Ngapudaw Township, Pathein District, Ayeyawady Region, at about 8.30 pm on September 26.

A combined patrol checked a suspicious-looking Pajero near Mile Post (16/1) on Ngayokkaung-Pathein Road and found 10 Bengali men and 20 Bengali women on board the car. But the driver managed to flee.

According to interrogation, a motorboat carrying 11 Bengali men, 32 Bengali women and five ship crew members started travelling from Thetkalpyin refugee camp in Sittway Township, Rakhine State, to Yangon on September 23. Each had to pay a deposit of K500,000 out of K2.7 million in transport charges. The motorboat first headed to Ngayokkaung, Ngapudaw Township. After the motorboat stopped there, 10 Bengali men and 20 Bengali women continued to travel to Yangon in a car and were detained.

According to initial reports, the remaining 12 people proceeded to the sea.

"The motorboat stopped over in a narrow creek near Ngayokkaung. Then a car came to fetch them. We couldn't see inside the car through the black windows. We were doubtful and checked the car. Then they were arrested," said Ayeyawady Region Parliament member Phyo Zaw Shwe from Ngapudaw Township.

A local resident said there might have been links between some locals and the illegal migrants because the route they chose was known by local people only.

It is reported that authorities are in pursuit of the motorboat heading towards the sea.