Police in India investigates suspected people smuggling to New Zealand

Police in southern India are investigating a suspected attempt to illegally transport more than 100 people by boat to New Zealand.

Additional Superintendent of Police Sojan in Kerala state said police were questioning people who failed to board the fishing boat, who said it left nine days ago for New Zealand.

The distance for the trip would be vast ‑ the boat would have to cover nearly 12,000 kilometres, which is about 1000 kilometres more than the distance between Auckland and Los Angeles.

Sojan, who uses one name, said police began investigating when they found dozens of abandoned bags containing dried fruits and everything needed for a sea journey near the harbour in Kochi in Kerala state.

Police believe the fishing boat was so overcrowded that many people had to leave their luggage behind. Sojan said it was unclear where the boat might be.

He said that authorities have not been able to trace the boat so far, no radio connection and no radar adding that it was a fishing boat, not a passenger boat. The boat had been purchased just for this purpose.

He said no arrests had been made.

[Source: Stuff.co]