Papua New Guinea deports 150 illegal migrants to Indonesia

Port Moresby: Nearly 150 illegal migrants have been deported from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia, sources said on Friday.

An official told the state-run daily Post Courier that the migrants in West Sepik Province were working for a palm-oil company without proper permits for up to two years. 

Customs officials confirmed the report but did not disclose any further details, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Most Asians have been entering the country as tourists and are often found to be illegal immigrants brought into PNG to perform jobs which nationals are capable of doing," the official said.

In May, the PNG Attorney General Ano Pala sought ratification of an extradition treaty between PNG and Indonesia to help prosecute cross-boarder crimes.