The Japan Coast Guard on Tuesday arrested 12 men here who said they are from Myanmar on suspicion of attempting to illegally enter the country aboard a freighter, coast guard officials said.
The coast guard also arrested three Malaysian crew members of the 39,582-ton Bunga Raya Satu on suspicion of abetting the smuggling attempt.
Customs officials reportedly found the men at around 9:30 a.m. hiding in the Malaysian-registered ship and reported the discovery to the coast guard.
The ship left Pusan, South Korea, on Sunday and arrived in Kobe shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday.
The coast guard said the 12 may have boarded the ship in Pusan.