Four Vietnamese asylum seekers intercepted by the Australian Border Force off the coast of Broome late last week are still being kept at sea, as are 33 people of unknown nationality who arrived at Christmas Island after their vessel was damaged………..
……….A second government official, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely, described people smugglers as having a new “drop and run” operational model that was challenging for Border Force.
Smaller numbers of would-be asylum seekers are being shipped to Australia in faster boats, dropped onshore and told not to alert authorities to their presence immediately so the people smugglers can get away.