FED: Afghan aslyum seekers had valid documents authorities

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-1999
FED: Afghan aslyum seekers had valid documents authorities

By Debra Way

CANBERRA, April 15 AAP - A group of Afghans who sought asylum status in New Zealand had
passed through Australia on valid French passports and had not been the subject of a travel
warning, immigration authorities insisted today.

An immigration department spokesman disputed claims that Australian authorities had failed
to heed a tip-off that the the 11 Afghans were trying to make their way to New Zealand.

The Afghans, including three young children, boarded a Qantas flight in Brisbane, arriving
in Wellington on Saturday night without travel documents, seeking asylum.

The New Zealand Customs Service is reported today as saying that the group had tried to
flush passports and other documents down a toilet on the flight from Australia, and on arrival
at Wellington Airport.

They were reportedly well dressed and each adult carried $US250 ($NZ468, $A395) in cash,
and some in New Zealand dollars.

The Australian immigration department spokesman said they were not aware of any tip-off.

"We are talking to the New Zealand authorities about this and trying to get more details,
but it doesn't appear that we had any warning about this particular group," he said.

"There are many warnings current about individuals and groups travelling but at this stage
it does not appear as though we had a warning for these people."

The Afghans had flown into Cairns on Saturday, carrying valid French passports, he said.

"They were cleared through immigration in Cairns and went to Brisbane where they
transferred to a Wellington flight, again using French passports.

"They were making no asylum claims here and did not come to our attention and so no checks
were made."

A Qantas spokeswoman refused to comment on press reports that the airline could face legal
action for flying the group to New Zealand.

"The group of Afghans in question had appropriate documentation when they checked into the
flight for Wellington," she said.

AAP daw/sc/it

KEYWORD: NZ AFGHANS AUST

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