Indonesian water police have found an asylum seeker boat harboured in Bali that was trying to get to Australia.

It is understood Bali police found between 80 and 100 people of Middle Eastern origin hiding in the hull of a wooden boat in Benoa Harbour.

They have now been taken ashore and detained for questioning by Indonesian immigration authorities.

The two crew members have been arrested.

Meanwhile, Indonesian police sources revealed last night that a suspected people smuggling boss, linked to a fatal boat voyage that killed 90 asylum seekers last year, has been found and arrested.

Police had been hunting for him for months.

They have also detained two other alleged people smugglers from Myanmar.