One intriguing questions about the smuggling is the degree of involvement by China's navy and marine police.

It oversees a variety of government offices, including the marine police.

The marine police would also like to see mandatory boating education for everyone, regardless of age.

During the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, the marine police also played a role in the crisis.

A special operations squad of marine police was established to counter various terrorism threats.

He said 107 of the passengers were either rescued by the marine police and local fishermen or swam to safety.

"Now it's up to the Legislature to give the marine police the wherewithal to provide effective enforcement," he said.

But marine police say they are responding to an explosion in pleasure craft.

"When the marine police were changing shifts, we crossed the channel."

In future Gujarat marine police may directly recruit specially trained personnel.