An Australian navy ship is reportedly moored off the coast of Vietnam as part of a secret operation to return 50 asylum seekers.
Authorities intercepted the boat earlier in April, north of Australia, The West Australian reports.
It's believed a week-long voyage to return the asylum seekers to Vietnam aboard HMAS Choules could cost at least $1.4 million, based on Defence estimates of a daily running cost of $201,621.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton declined to comment citing "operational matters".
