KEY POINTS:
Twenty Indonesian and Chinese overstayers are being held at the Hastings police station after they were detained during an immigration operation.
Police and the Labour Department carried out the joint operation on Monday and Tuesday.
The 17 Indonesians, who had deserted a ship, and three Chinese citizens, were being interviewed by immigration officers, the Labour Department said in a statement.
They are due to appear at Napier District Court later today .
The department said it would seek warrants to detain the overstayers until they could be sent home.
Border security and compliance manager Arron Baker said the operation had gone smoothly thanks to close cooperation with police.
"This operation emphasises the fact that we do not tolerate people who flout immigration rules. When we find out about these individuals, we take action," Mr Baker said.
- NZPA
