A group of migrants from Venezuela has been detained off the coast of the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, authorities say.
Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard spokesman Roderick Gouverneur said all 21 migrants remained in custody on Monday.
The boat carrying the migrants was detected around on Friday night about 10 kilometres south of the island in the southern Caribbean Sea, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
Authorities found 20 people from Venezuela and one Colombian on board.
Cigarette and ammunition were confiscated from the boat and all on board were detained on suspicion of attempting to illegally enter Curacao, the statement said.
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An increasing number of people have been seeking to leave Venezuela amid the collapse of the oil-based economy in the South American nation 65km north of Curacao.
Venezuelan opposition leaders said months ago they believed people could begin leaving the country for nearby islands.
