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UPDATE: A POLICE source told Newsport this afternoon he believed all passengers aboard the sunken fishing trawler at Cape Kimberley had now been detained despite no official confirmation from the Australian Border Force.

Two more asylum seekers were caught on the Daintree Ferry this morning in the back of a van, taking the tally of arrests to 17.

It’s believed a photo on one of the detainees phone showed 17 people of Vietnamese origin on board the ship.

The Vietnamese pair successfully boarded the ferry as they crossed the Daintree River around 9.15am this morning before being apprehended on the other side.

It’s believed they were the skipper and first mate aboard the sunken ship that grounded at Cape Kimberley on Sunday.

They were transported to Mossman for police questioning amid claims they are part of a people smuggling ring connected to Sydney.

It comes as water police, Australian Border Force crews and dog squads continued scouring the Daintree this afternoon despite reports the search has been abandoned.

State Emergency Service personnel left the Daintree last night.

“We are being told to continue searching so there is the possibility more are out there,” A water police spokesperson told Newsport this morning.

The coordinated search has been run out of Canberra by the ABF, much to the frustration of media and emergency crews on the ground in the Daintree. 

A source told Newsport today three of the boat people were tracked by dogs, one was found asleep behind a shed, while nine were initially located huddled together on a beach.

Two were located on the road heading towards the Daintree Ferry yesterday before crew aboard the transport ship identified the pair today.

Maritime Safety is now working on a plan to remove the abandoned vessel at Cape Kimberley.

It’s believed more than 8000 litres of diesel has been spilled on the pristine coastline 12km due north of Port Douglas.