JAKARTA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian police have detained 41 Afghan migrants in southeast Sulawesi province and six Indonesian smugglers for suspicion in involving in people smuggling, a local police officer said Tuesday.

    A local police officer at Bau Bau regency of the province, who only gave his name as Hendra, said the Afghans were trying to enter neighboring Australia with the help of the smugglers.

    But, they were detained in Bau Bau regent of southeast Sulawesi province after Indonesian police and Australian police tailed the ship they were traveling on from Jakarta.

    "They were detained on Monday evening," he told Xinhua over phone from the regent.

    Hendra said that the police also detained an Indonesian boat captain and four of its crews and seized an engine-powered wooden boat.

    The officer said that, according to the plan, another smuggler was waiting for them in Bau Bau with a boat to take the Afghans to Australia.

    He said that all the detainees now were placed in a hotel in Bau Bau regency.

    Indonesia is a strategic spot for smuggling people to Australia through a dangerous sea journey.