The undocumented men were detained in Dili during checks to prevent people arriving illegally in Timor-Leste, Joao Belo dos Reis, the Chief Superintendent of the National Criminal Investigation Department, told the Independente.

Reis said the police received a tip off from a member of public about the undocumented men, who he said had lived in Timor-Leste for “a long time”.

Reis added that local authorities were working with Chinese counterparts to determine if the men should be deported back to China.