Several Indonesian military officers have been arrested after being caught escorting 41 asylum seekers to the south-west Java coast.

A senior police intelligence source has told the ABC that five military officers, in uniform but believed to be unarmed, were guiding a convoy of asylum seekers to the coast.

They were travelling in minibuses and other vehicles when they were intercepted by port police early this morning.

Police say the asylum seekers are from Iran and Syria and were intending to board a boat bound for Christmas Island.

The boat was meant to leave from Palangpang beach in the Pelabuhanratu area of the south west Java coast.

The officers have been arrested and handed over to Indonesian military police.

Three drivers and a guide were also arrested and the asylum seekers have been detained for questioning.

Meanwhile, former human rights commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski has warned that hundreds - if not thousands - of asylum seekers will almost certainly drown on their way to Australia unless something is done to stop people-smuggling boats.

Dr Ozdowski made the dire prediction in a written submission to the expert panel set up by the Federal Government to reassess Australia's border protection policies.

Last month, more than 90 people died in separate sinkings of asylum boats as they made their way to Australia.