The landing of 39 asylum seekers near Beagle Bay on the Dampier Peninsula continues to provide more questions than answers, as authorities try to discern how they managed to reach the mainland without detection.

The Australian‘s Indigenous Affairs correspondent Paige Taylor told Gary Adshead on 6PR Mornings initial reports of the foreign nationals from Pakistan and Bangladesh shocked the small township, especially considering the two groups of refugees were reportedly unaware of each other.

“They seemed to be completely surprised, they didn’t seem to know the second group was even there,” Ms Taylor said.

“That’s what is so concerning for authorities; in the past smugglers have wanted to be intercepted, but this seems like a new tactic.”

Press PLAY to hear more on the story

Image: ABF/Tourism WA